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March 24, 2025 – A fresh survey of American drivers indicates that if the cost of using public electric vehicle chargers dropped below the price of gasoline, overall EV demand could surge by nearly 50%. The findings, released by the U.S. EV Charging Industry Association (EVCIA), add pressure on policymakers to focus on pricing rather than weakening sales mandates.
The poll, conducted by YouGov among 2,000 U.S. adults, found that the share of respondents likely to purchase an EV as their next vehicle would jump from 25% to 37% if public charging became cheaper than filling up with gasoline. That 12-point boost would push the adoption rate above the 33% target set by California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule for 2026 and come close to the 38% required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2032 emissions standards for new light-duty vehicles.
“The case for dialing back EV sales targets rests on the assumption that drivers won’t choose electric,” said Mark Thompson, director of policy at EVCIA. “These numbers show that government has a powerful demand lever it hasn’t fully pulled – cutting the policy-driven cost burden on charging networks. Lower prices would unlock investment, reduce living costs, strengthen energy security, and let automakers hit their goals without a fight.”
The industry group’s argument follows the Biden administration’s expansion of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit for home EV charging, which now covers up to 30% of installation costs. While home charging remains significantly cheaper than gasoline – averaging $0.12 per kWh versus $3.50 per gallon equivalent – the gap is narrower for public infrastructure. Standard Level 2 public chargers still cost less than gasoline per mile, but ultra-rapid DCFC stations can be 20% more expensive than filling a tank, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.
The survey comes as several states, including New York and Washington, consider adopting California’s ZEV mandate, which requires 100% zero-emission new car sales by 2035. The EPA’s recent emission rules also push automakers toward 60% EV sales by 2030, but the progress has been uneven. Critics have called for relaxing those targets, citing consumer hesitation and high upfront costs.
“Price, reliability, and accessibility are the triple barriers for drivers without a driveway,” said Sarah Chen, executive director of the advocacy group EV Drivers United. “Public charging must not become a premium experience. The current federal review of public charging costs should put drivers first – making it fair, affordable, and trustworthy.”
The U.S. Department of Energy is currently reviewing a proposal to cap public charging prices at the equivalent of gasoline on
