TrueCar positioned its latest research project to coincide with the opening of the 2022 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, as the Motor City has been charged up with electric vehicles and a visit from President Joe Biden, who quipped, “You know, you all know I’m a car guy.

“I’m here because the auto show and the vehicles here give me so many reasons to be optimistic about the future. And I really mean it. Just looking at them and driving them, they just give me a sense of optimism,” Biden said.

TrueCar refreshed its national consumer attitude survey from March regarding EVs. The survey uncovered a continued growth in consumer interest and willingness to consider an EV as their next vehicle purchase.

Researchers discovered key indicators across the board show consumers are becoming more comfortable with EVs as a viable option, and that while fears regarding charging costs and range anxiety still exist, they are lessening.

“Consumers across the nation are showing a growing acceptance toward considering an EV as their next vehicle purchase,” TrueCar president and chief executive officer Mike Darrow said in a news release. “Since March 2022, the percentage of consumers reporting they would consider an EV as their next purchase grew from 52% to 59%.”

Among the August National Consumer EV Survey highlights:

—Consumers’ likelihood to purchase an EV as their next vehicle continues to grow

—EV considerers (percent somewhat or extremely likely) up from 52% to 59%

—EV rejectors (percent somewhat or extremely unlikely) shrunk from 24% to 19%

—Despite gas prices leveling off, those prices continue to drive EV consideration

—Almost 1/3 (31%) of consumers now say they are much more likely to consider purchasing or leasing an EV due to gas prices, up from 27% in March

—More consumers now say they would purchase an EV if it met their range needs, up from 73% to 77%

—The proportion of consumers concerned about the cost to charge an EV dropped dramatically, from 54% to 42%

However, researchers indicated not all areas of the country are as robustly leading the charge toward EVs.

TrueCar focused in on Detroit metro area consumers ahead of the opening of its annual North American International Auto Show, which carries a heavy focus on the industry transformation toward EVs.

“Our focus on Detroit area consumers showed a lower percentage of people willing to consider EVs as a next purchase,” Darrow said. “This might be attributable to the area’s strong ties to the auto industry and its love of performance vehicles or could be an indication that the middle of the country lags behind the coasts in its appetite for EVs.”

When looking at the Detroit-area Consumer EV Survey, TrueCar determined:

—Detroit residents are significantly less likely to purchase an EV in the future

—Only 49% report being likely (somewhat or extremely) to purchase an EV in the future (verus 59% nationwide)

—Part of this reluctance could be up to exposure, according to TrueCar, which found that Detroit residents have significantly less experience with EVs: two-thirds (66%) have neither owned nor driven one in the past (versus 57% nationwide)

—They are less likely to consider an EV specifically due to the rise in gas prices, perhaps reflecting lower prices in the Detroit metro than in many other areas

—23% report being much more likely to purchase an EV due to high gas prices (vs. 31% nationwide)

To help narrow the consumer education gap on purchasing and owning EVs, TrueCar is now providing informational guides for consumers that are searching and buying EVs online at www.truecar.com.