Clearing The Air On Deadline To Ditch Gas Cars For EVs: Patch Survey

ACROSS AMERICA — Patch readers responding to an informal survey seem unwilling to let go of their internal combustion engines and about three in four also oppose new EPA rules that could phase out most gas-powered cars in favor of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Overall, 1,633 readers responded to the survey, conducted after the Biden administration announced new rules that could phase out most gasoline-powered cars in favor of electric and hybrid vehicles.

More than three-fourths of respondents (76.4 percent) disagreed with the policy, saying internal combustion engine vehicles shouldn’t be phased out at all. And 58.2 percent of respondents said they definitely won’t buy an EV or hybrid the next time they buy a car. Full results are found at the bottom of this story.

The results of Patch’s survey results, though informal, are similar to the findings of other scientific polls. In a Gallup poll last spring, 41 percent of respondents said unequivocally they would not buy an EV. A Pew Research Center survey last summer found only about 4 in 10 Americans (38 percent) said they were very or somewhat likely to consider an electric vehicle the next time they buy a new car.

The Environmental Protection Agency said the new final rule will help the auto industry meet new tailpipe emissions standards if 56 percent of new vehicles are electric by 2032, along with at least 13 percent plug-in hybrids and other partially electric cars, as well as more efficient gasoline-powered cars that get better mileage. The new standards will avoid more than 7 billion tons of planet-warming carbon emissions over the next three decades, the EPA said.

‘Rammed Down Our Throats’

Top concerns mentioned by Patch readers include inadequate charging stations, the overall cost of electric and hybrid vehicles when compared to gas-powered vehicles, and concerns related to miles per charge, reliability in cold weather and other safety and environmental concerns.

Many readers’ responses reflected the partisan politics of climate change.

President Joe Biden has made fighting climate change a hallmark of his presidency and is seeking to slash carbon dioxide emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles, which make up the largest single source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

“These new regulations are being rammed down our throats,” one reader said, citing reports about the reliability of electric and hybrid vehicles and a price that “is out of reach for the majority of the population.”

Said another reader: “The people have made it quite clear: They do not want this. The 1 percent think they speak for all. They do not.”

Another reader said the push for EVs and hybrids is “all a political movement.”

“Gas cars are here to stay for the duration and it should be that way,” the person said. “Leave well enough alone.”

The politics of geography also emerged.

“Until chargers are as prolific as gas stations, and recharging is just as fast as filling up, internal combustion engine vehicles should not be phased out,” one reader said, calling the climate agenda “a classic case or urbanites and suburbanites dictating to everyone else what’s best for them.”

“They should stay in their lane,” the person said.

‘We Must Do Something’

The time to do something about climate change is now, someone else said.

“We must do something to help with the extreme climate changes man has caused in the last 150 years,” the person said. “With a worldwide population growing from 1 billion to over 8 billion in that timeframe, we have paved over farmland, cut down rain forests, and added pollutants from trains, planes, and motor vehicles in our environment. We must start utilizing our technology to harness solar, wind, and nuclear power to keep our planet healthy.”

Many readers who support cars meeting lower emissions standards said hybrids, not electric battery cars, are the answer.

“When the former CEO of Toyota, a global auto supplier, warns that the market isn’t ready, we should pay attention,” another reader said, noting concerns that include the performance of EVs in cold weather.

• Read more: New EPA Rules Could Boost Electric Car Sales: Things To Know

“Consider the predicament a member of Congress faced a few years ago when stuck in a snowstorm with an EV,” the person said. “The battery died, forcing them and their family to seek shelter in the nearest combustible vehicle to avoid freezing. Given these challenges, the focus should remain on hybrids until our infrastructure adequately supports EVs.”

A reader who favors an ambitious five-year phase-out vowed to buy an EV “as soon as I can afford it.”

“Gas-powered cars are doing immense damage to the environment, and I want to think about the world I’m leaving my children,” the person said.

“Climate change is real,” another person agreed. “Fossil fuel is a huge contributor to carbon pollution. Change is needed and science and technology are making change possible and attainable.”

“Electric vehicles are the future,” another reader said. “Combustion engine vehicles pollute our air and will become obsolete.”

“EVs are great,” someone else said. “You save money on gas, you help fight climate change, you spend 50 percent less on maintenance and they are fun to drive.”

“Carbon emissions are killing the planet,” another reader said. “There is no time to lose!”

Is The U.S. Ready?

Several people questioned whether the nation’s power grid can handle more electric cars. The simple answer, according to experts, is that it can with appropriate planning by utility companies to absorb the surge in EV grid demand.

“I am open to looking at options when I purchase my next vehicle,” someone else said. “A major consideration will be the availability of public charging stations and the range of the vehicle.”

The Energy Department has a map of charging stations, a resource one reader said goes a long way “to mitigate range anxiety.” The same reader said fast-charging infrastructure should be accelerated quickly at existing gas stations, roadside parks, parking lots and rural areas in general; that incentives to buy an EV should be expanded; and that low financing options should prioritize EVs over gas-powered vehicles.

The reader, who plans to buy an EV at the next trade-in, said more money should be invested in education “to counter all the negative misinformation.”

“More government investment is needed in battery technology,” the reader said. “Promotion and education efforts need to expand exponentially, with an appeal toward civic responsibility and overall welfare of people and nation (patriotism).”

Another reader who is somewhat or very likely to buy an electric car at some point agreed EVs and hybrids “are the future,” but said “we are not ready for them. The infrastructure is a long way from being ready.”

“I own an electric car for local errands and a ‘real’ or for trips. I have a garage with adequate power, I will never go farther than 100 miles from home in an EV,” one person said. “Given these circumstances, we are very happy with the EV. Without these conditions, owning an EV would be foolish.”

‘The Electric Grid Would Collapse’

Another reader said the EPA's final rule is “the cart before the horse.”

“I think electric vehicle reliability and the infrastructure to support the additional electric power and charging stations should be in place along with these unrealistic goals,” the person said.

“Power grids cannot sustain everyday usage, and they think adding millions of cars to the power grid is smart?” one person said. “Everyone knows of the struggles people are having with these electric cars from bursting into flames to dying in extreme cold to the long lines to charge.

“You cannot pull into a charging station like a gas station, and any long-distance travel is a challenge,” the person said. “Hybrids maybe, but never all EV.”

A reader who favors a 20-year phase-out cited inadequate infrastructure to charge EVs at the current time. The reader doubts much will change in 10 years. Also, the person said, EV and hybrids are “too expensive for most of us.”

“I live in a two-family apartment,” the reader said. “My landlord would need to install a charging station. I don’t see that happening. … Maybe in 20-plus years, a robust nationwide infrastructure will be in place and vehicle costs will have come down.”

“The technology does not yet exist to make all-electric viable,” another reader said. “In a crisis, nobody can afford to wait for hours for their car to ‘recharge,’ and if we all plugged in cars, the electric grid would collapse under the weight.

“Let's not even start on what happens when EVs get into crashes — remember the EV that kept catching on fire at the junkyard about a year ago after it was towed there after a crash?”

What About EV Fires?

Data is still emerging on whether the risk of a fire in these cars is greater than in those powered by fossil fuels. Analysts from AutoInsuranceEZ doused claims EVs pose a fire risk in a study comparing National Transportation Safety Board data on car fires to Bureau of Transportation Statistics sales data.

It showed EVs are the least likely to ignite with 25 fires per 100,000 cars sold, compared to gas vehicles with 1,530 per 100,000 cars sold and hybrids, with 3,475 per car sold.

Still, the verdict is still out, and fiery scenes on the news and on social media weighed heavily on some readers’ minds.

“Stop this insanity,” one reader said. “The batteries are the cause of very intense and dangerous fires.”

Another reader said “electric vehicles and hybrids are great concepts to reduce pollution and phase out fossil fuels,” but said technology and design aren’t where they need to be. “We do not yet have all the ‘bugs’ worked out to make them convenient and reliable in many real-life situations.”

Another reader said electric vehicle sales are slowing as more information becomes available.

“An important consideration is simple physics: Electric vehicles do not/will not perform to stated ranges in colder climates or those that vary wildly like Chicago and any latitude north.”

“The electric charging infrastructure mess has also become common news and the cost of built-in battery obsolescence is frighteningly clear,” the person continued. “Any car company … would love a fleet that has to replenish every 10 years! That is why they are on board. Period.”

‘Incredibly Weird’

One reader dismissed such concerns as unnecessary handwringing as the industry addresses identified problems.

“Obsessing over the source of power for your car is incredibly weird,” the person said. “Most of the people who are so against EVs couldn’t tell you what octane their gas car takes now. EVs are quickly becoming good options for more and more people because they really are better for the average person who treats their car as an appliance to get them around.”

Fast charging “is still a sore spot” for some people, “but for most daily use, it isn’t a factor” and is only needed for longer trips when EV owners cannot charge at home.

“The biggest advantage to EVs is being able to charge at home for incredibly cheap,” the person continued. “Range is also still of concern for Americans because we are so used to internal combustion engine vehicles but the vast majority of car trips for a driver are less than 30 miles. And when you can charge at home you always start your trip with a full battery.”

The push for EVs is a phase that will pass, someone else said.

“Electric cars will soon be a thing of the past, especially when our economy is so bad with people struggling to pay their mortgages and just trying to get through life, thanks to our government,” the person said.

“Every time the government exercised its uninformed opinion on what is best for its citizens the resulting chaos of regulations, restrictions, and red tape make people’s lives that much worse,” another reader said.

‘Elitist Concept’

Several readers said EVs and hybrids are still too expensive for most Americans. The push for more electric cars could put any vehicle out of financial reach for families who are already struggling, a reader in Pennsylvania said.

“There are many displaced families in our area without a home,” the reader said. “They can’t afford to save for affordable housing, bad now they won’t be able to replace their car. We need to help those in need now, not just push them to the curb.”

“This is an elitist concept because of lack of affordability,” another reader said. “How would people who can’t even get decent food afford an EV? We’re going to be divided as a society (again) based on the car we’re driving.”

Another reader said U.S.-manufactured EVs “are too expensive for the general public.” Lower-cost electric vehicles made in China are seen as an existential threat to the U.S. auto industry, even though the budget-friendly cars are not yet for sale in the United States.

“If the U.S. can’t match the lower cost, and they want an EV-buying explosion to counteract carbon pollution, then they need to allow Chinese cars into our marketplace.

An older reader who proposed a 50-year phase-out said the cost of EVs is an obstacle.

“From what I've read and heard, it will cost me way too much money to buy, set up an electric connection and maintain,” the person said. “So as a senior that can still drive, I hope I’m dead before I have to buy one.”

Take A Hike

“I am retired, so buying an EV or even a hybrid is way out of my price range,” said a reader who is still driving a used car purchased in 2007 and still passing emissions tests. “Most seniors and younger adults cannot afford either. They are cost-prohibitive for most people, especially in a time when people are maxing out their credit cards.”

The reader, who only drives about 600 miles a year, said there are other ways people can offset their carbon footprints.

“I believe in helping the environment as I walk whenever I can, which is a lot,” the reader said. “I compost and am mindful of helping the environment but I can't bankrupt my retirement to buy an EV.”

“The cost of a new battery and old battery disposal are prohibitive,” one reader said. “Also, living in an extremely cold area and having fewer charging stations make it impossible or at best highly inconvenient and dangerous if the engine stopped working due to cold or I couldn’t find a charging station.”

That said, “if they can fix these issues, I’d consider buying,” the reader added.

Said another person: “The EVs are too expensive and the cost to the environment to make the batteries and then the coal needed to make electricity is ridiculous. Watch the science, it is not sustainable. Build more public transportation.”

‘Tainted By Human Rights Abuses’

Several readers, whose concerns are supported by research, said the shift to electric cars could increase the demand for lithium, an essential component of clean energy technology, and lead to environmentally damaging mining practices in countries where human rights are an issue.

“Without radical changes,” one reader said, “the batteries which power green vehicles will continue to be tainted by human rights abuses.”

Another reader said the push for electric vehicles in response to climate change is “the biggest scam ever.”

“If you do your research, you will see EVs are not as green as everyone thinks,” the person said. “Look at what it takes to actually mine the resources to build the batteries, electricity to charge the batteries, recycle the batteries, and consider that nobody is going to want to buy a 10-year-old EV, which will likely require battery replacement.”

About The Survey

Our voluntary survey, promoted in Patch newsletters and on Patch social media pages, generated 1,633 responses from March 20-26.

Do you think gas cars should be phased out, and if so, in how many years?

• No, gas engines should not be phased out: 76.4 percent
• Yes, in 5 years: 4.5 percent
• Yes, in 10 years: 7.7 percent
• Yes, in 20 years: 6.1 percent
• Yes, in 50+ years: 5.3 percent

How likely are you to buy an electric or hybrid vehicle the next time you buy a car?

• No question. I’ll definitely buy an EV or hybrid: 10.5 percent
• I am somewhat or very likely to buy an EV or hybrid: 9.1 percent
• I am somewhat or very unlikely to buy an EV or hybrid: 17.5 percent
• I definitely will not buy an EV or hybrid: 58.2 percent
• Other: 4.7 percent