EV Interest in the US Shows a Wider Age Gap

Age appears to be a stronger dividing line than party affiliation in Americans’ interest in buying an electric vehicle. A new national survey found that younger adults are far more open to EV ownership than people over 65, while the gap between Democratic and Republican respondents is comparatively smaller.

Younger Adults Show the Strongest EV Interest

The survey was conducted by Seven Letter Insight for the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) and Generation180. It included 1,300 American voters and was fielded from August 14 to August 23, 2026, with an overall margin of error of ±2.72 percentage points. ZETA is an EV-industry coalition that advocates for policies supporting electric transportation, an important context when interpreting its research.

Among respondents ages 18–34, 75% said they were likely to purchase or lease an EV within five years. The figure was similarly high among those ages 35–49, at 72%.

Interest weakened substantially among older groups. Half of respondents ages 50–64 said they were likely to choose an EV, while only 23% of people 65 and older gave the same answer.

That creates a 52-percentage-point difference between the youngest and oldest age groups in the survey.

Looking only at respondents who described themselves as “very likely” to get an EV shows an even sharper contrast. According to the survey data reported with the findings, that response was selected by 36% of 18–34-year-olds, 40% of those ages 35–49, 18% of the 50–64 group, and just 4% of respondents 65 or older.

Political Affiliation Shows a Smaller Difference

Party affiliation was associated with differences in EV interest, but the overall divide was narrower than the age gap.

Among Democratic respondents, 57% said they were likely to purchase or lease an EV during the next five years. Among Republican respondents, the share was 45%, producing a 12-point difference.

The survey’s more detailed results also showed that 26% of Democrats and 22% of Republicans described themselves as very likely to choose an EV. Republicans were more likely to rule out an EV, however, with 42% saying they were not likely to buy one, compared with roughly one-quarter of Democrats.

Those results do not mean political views have no relationship with EV attitudes. Instead, this particular survey indicates that age produced a substantially larger difference in stated purchase intent than party identification.

The findings also measure intention rather than completed purchases. What consumers say they may buy within five years can differ from what they eventually purchase, especially as vehicle prices, charging access and available models change.

Older Consumers Report More Negative EV Views

The generational split also appeared in general opinions about electric vehicles.

Among respondents age 65 and older, 40% reported a somewhat or very negative view of EV technology. Only 5% of the 18–34 group expressed a negative opinion, while about three-quarters of that younger group viewed EVs positively.

That gap matters for automakers because younger consumers may be receptive to EVs but do not always have the same purchasing power as older households. Higher vehicle prices can make a new EV difficult to purchase even when interest is strong.

At the same time, younger consumers have many more future vehicle purchases ahead of them. If their current preferences persist as they move into higher-income years, their growing share of the car-buying population could gradually change the demographic profile of EV demand.

Survey Results Point to a Long-Term Market Shift

Across all respondents, 51% said they were likely to buy or lease an EV within five years, the highest level recorded since ZETA’s monthly tracking survey began earlier in 2026.

The data therefore presents two different challenges for the EV market. In the near term, manufacturers still need to reach older consumers who currently show much lower interest. Over a longer period, the stronger acceptance among adults under 50 could expand the potential EV customer base as those groups account for more vehicle purchases.

The survey cannot predict how quickly that shift will occur. It does, however, suggest that generation may currently explain more of the variation in EV purchase interest than partisan identity, at least among the voters included in this August 2026 poll.

FAQ

Which age group is most likely to buy an EV?

Adults under 50 showed the highest EV interest in the ZETA survey. 75% of respondents ages 18–34 and 72% of those ages 35–49 said they were likely to purchase or lease one within five years.

How interested are Americans over 65 in electric vehicles?

Only 23% of respondents age 65 and older said they were likely to get an EV within five years. Just 4% described themselves as very likely to do so.

Is there a large Republican-Democrat gap in EV buying interest?

The survey found a 12-percentage-point gap in overall intent. About 57% of Democrats and 45% of Republicans said they were likely to purchase or lease an EV within five years.

How many Americans in the survey were considering an EV?

Overall, 51% of respondents said they were likely to purchase or lease an electric vehicle during the next five years. ZETA said this was the highest level in its monthly tracker since the survey series began.

How large was the EV survey?

The August 2026 survey included 1,300 American voters and had a reported overall margin of error of ±2.72 percentage points. Smaller demographic groups have larger margins of error.

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