Mini USA poll: Most EV users find 120km range sufficient for daily use

MANILA: A new consumer survey conducted by Mini USA revealed that more Americans — and particularly younger and female consumers — view electric vehicles as a primary car in the household more than any other use case.

Mini USA said this reflects various shifts in American consumers’ sentiment toward EVs over the last three years. Mini's survey, which repeated the same set of questions used in a 2019 questionnaire, led to the survey finding above. 

A point that has remained consistent from both surveys is daily travel distance, as 76% of respondents say that 75 miles (120 kilometers) of battery range is sufficient for everyday driving.

Only a three-percent increase over the course of three years, consumers’ daily driving distances continue to remain well below the current range of all new electric vehicles on the market today.

In the US market, Mini is offering the Cooper SE, an EV that boasts of a low center of gravity, a powerful electric powertrain, and dynamic handling. The Cooper SE packs a manufacturer-claimed range of 114 miles (around 183km). 

While vehicle usage has remained consistent, expectations for faster charging times rose over the last three years. This not only signals an improved perception of available charging technology and its progression over recent years, but an increasing expectation that greater improvements in charging is necessary for rapid EV adoption.

More than two-thirds (67%) of consumers now believe charging should take no more than an hour, an increase from 59% three years ago, Mini USA added. 

About 63% of all respondents in 2022 still consider EV owners to be early adopters, which is only three-percent lower over the last three years.

While this pioneering connotation may sound complimentary to some, it highlights a need for more mainstream awareness of the accessibility, daily usage, and convenience of electric vehicles today. Mini believes. 

Greater visibility for charging stations is needed, though some progress has been made. About 35% of consumers now know where their nearest EV charging port is located, a slight improvement from 26% in 2019. 

Photos from Mini

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