Survey Says: Considerable Interest in Electric Vehicles Across Racial, Ethnic Demographics

A September 2022 report by GreenLatinos based on a Consumer Reports survey finds high interest in electric vehicles (EVs) across all US racial demographics, with communities of color showing equal or greater interest than white consumers. However, systemic barriers—including lack of home charging access for renters in multi-unit dwellings, concerns over maintenance costs among Black and Latino respondents, and a lack of firsthand experience—hinder adoption. The report recommends targeted incentives for used EVs, expanded public and workplace charging infrastructure, and culturally relevant community outreach to accelerate equitable electrification.

• Interest in purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle is high across all racial groups, with communities of color demonstrating interest levels at least as high as white consumers: 52% of Asian Americans, 43% of Latino, 38% of Black, and 33% of white respondents would "definitely" or "seriously consider" an EV as their next vehicle.
• Cost concerns vary by demographic: white (60%) and Asian American (66%) respondents are more concerned with the initial purchase price, whereas Black (54%) and Latino (48%) respondents are more likely to identify maintenance and repair costs as a primary barrier.
• Charging logistics are a primary concern for all groups, but the specific needs differ. White Americans are more likely to prioritize home charging (49%), while Latino Americans show higher interest in workplace charging (16% compared to 9% for white Americans). Additionally, communities of color express higher concerns regarding personal safety at charging stations.
• There is a strong correlation between firsthand experience with EVs and the likelihood of purchase; individuals with the highest level of experience are nearly 10 times more likely to definitely consider an EV than those with the least experience.
• Black and Latino respondents are less likely to own their homes and more likely to live in multi-unit dwellings or use on-street parking, which reduces the viability of home charging as an adoption enabler.
• Information gaps are more pronounced in Black and Latino communities; among those not definitely planning to buy an EV, 13% of Black and 10% of Latino Americans feel they do not know enough about electric-only vehicles to make a purchase, compared to 5% of white and 2% of Asian Americans.

APA

GreenLatinos (2022). Survey Says: Considerable Interest in Electric Vehicles Across Racial, Ethnic Demographics. https://www.greenlatinos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EV-Demographic-Survey-English-final.pdf

Chicago

GreenLatinos. Survey Says: Considerable Interest in Electric Vehicles Across Racial, Ethnic Demographics. 2022. https://www.greenlatinos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EV-Demographic-Survey-English-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenLatinos |title=Survey Says: Considerable Interest in Electric Vehicles Across Racial, Ethnic Demographics |date=September 2022 |url=https://www.greenlatinos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EV-Demographic-Survey-English-final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenlatinos2022survey, author = {{GreenLatinos}}, title = {{Survey Says: Considerable Interest in Electric Vehicles Across Racial, Ethnic Demographics}}, institution = {GreenLatinos}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://www.greenlatinos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EV-Demographic-Survey-English-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }