Electric vehicles sparking interest, especially among younger drivers

Electric vehicles continue to create a buzz at car dealerships across the region, despite a recent poll indicating fewer than half of Americans are interested in switching from gas-powered varieties just yet.

“Every day, customers are coming into our stores asking about our electric offerings,” said Richard Bazzy, president of Shults Ford.

Shults has locations in Harmar, Wexford and West Mifflin that offer an array of electric vehicles such as the Mustang Mach-E, touted for “long drives, good vibes and torque-drenched exhilaration,” but which is sold out for retail orders.

The trend in Western Pennsylvania appears to be bucking one outlined in a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

The study showed about 40% of American adults say they are interested in electric vehicles, with about 19% saying they are “very likely” to buy one.

It also showed that EV options are still miles away for many buyers, largely because of cost and lack of charging stations.

According to the poll, about 8% of adults reported they or someone in their household owns or leases an electric vehicle, and about the same number said their household has a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

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That’s a far cry from President Joe Biden’s goal of having 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030. On Monday, Biden unveiled the EV Acceleration Challenge, which includes public and private commitments to support the transition.

There are about 70,000 EVs registered in Pennsylvania, according to Matthew McDonald, senior associate of transportation and electrification for Duquesne Light.

It appears that young people could change direction more quickly than older buyers. The poll showed 55% of adults younger than 30 said they are at least somewhat likely to buy an electric vehicle as their next purchase, compared to 31% of those 45 and older.

P.J. Pryor, sales consultant at Jim Shorkey Chevrolet of Murrysville, said the popularity of EVs “all depends on who you talk to.”

He said the vehicles are still in the grassroots stage of production, but he believes they are the wave of the future.

“In the near future, charging stations will be more readily available, and all of our children will be driving electric,” he said.

“For now, there are still naysayers who think the power grid can’t support them, but you have other people ahead of their time and who love the energy savings.”

Bazzy said EV demand will grow along with improved range.

“Most EV charging occurs at home, so there really are very few limits,” he said.

New electric vehicles cost an average of more than $58,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Even with a $7,500 tax credit for helping to thwart climate change, the price tag can be steep for a vehicle that requires long periods of charging amid a scant number of charging stations.

Depending on the charging source and battery capacity, some cars can charge in 30 minutes. Others can take up to 24 hours.

Joseph Thurby, chairman of the Neighborhood Ford Store, an organization of 79 Ford dealers serving four states, said most dealerships that sell EVs have associated chargers that are a draw for potential owners.

People who buy EVs want reassurance that they can readily charge their vehicles. The lagging availability has created an issue for some shoppers, he said.

“The current infrastructure of availability of chargers is just not there,” he said. “Rural areas have hardly any charging stations available.”

The trend is changing slowly, but some customers view the search as a negative when considering an EV, he said.

McDonald said there are more than 600 public charging stations in the region.

In recent years, stations have been installed at the Dunkin’ in Harmar, the Oakmont service plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Beechwood Farms in Fox Chapel and the O’Hara Community Center.

They also are available at the Dunkin’ in Jeannette, Seton Hill College in Greensburg and at the New Stanton service station on the turnpike.

Bazzy said local Ford dealers have Level 2 chargers, which are 240 volts, in place.

“Many of us are installing more and investing in Level 3 (480-volt) chargers by the end of the year so we can be ready to meet demand as Ford increases EV production and announces future EV offerings,” he said.

Biden has set a goal of building 500,000 EV charging stations nationwide by 2030. And $5 billion from the 2021 infrastructure law has been set aside to install or upgrade chargers along 75,000 miles of highway.

Electric car giant Tesla also is expected to make some of its charging stations available to all U.S. electric vehicles by the end of 2024.

The plan could be a game-changer in the EV market. According to its website, Tesla’s nationwide network of 17,000 Superchargers can add up to 322 miles of range in 15 minutes.

McDonald said industry efforts like those of the National Electric Highway Coalition are making fast charging more accessible along major interstates and travel corridors, enabling long-distance travel.

“As automakers invest more heavily in EV technology, we’re seeing higher average battery ranges, lower vehicle prices and more consumer choice, such as SUVs and trucks,” McDonald said.

Thurby said some consumers are concerned with the amount of time it takes to charge a vehicle, noting “it’s definitely different than pulling up to the pump and filling up.”

Some varieties are better, he said. The Ford Mach E and Lightning both come with an available extended-range battery for 300 miles of driving.

Duquesne Light offers an online EV Guide to empower shoppers.

Typically, charging is done at home and drivers start their day with a full battery range with more than enough power to get to work or other activities, McDonald said.

He added there are clear benefits to clean, electric mobility.

Transportation accounts for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions in the Pittsburgh region, and electric vehicles represent a significant opportunity to reduce that figure since they have zero tailpipe emissions, McDonald said.

“On average, EVs are responsible for 80% less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional vehicles when charged up in Pennsylvania,” he said.

The AP poll showed 35% of people feel reducing their carbon footprint could steer them toward an EV in the future.

In the Pittsburgh region, EVs made up more than 5% of new light-duty vehicle sales in 2022, McDonald said. That number could be as large as 50% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2030, depending on a range of factors, including federal regulations, he said.

“From customer surveys, we know that at least a quarter of customers are already interested in purchasing or leasing an EV as their next vehicle,” McDonald said.