The EV snowball is real, even if it’s rolling slower than expected — report

The appeal of electric vehicles (EVs) remains high among current owners—but there are some notable shifts in how consumers feel about the EV ownership experience. 

The details: A 2025 EV Ownership Study by CDK Global reveals several key trends that speak to the growing viability of the EV market—while also spotlighting the staying power of gas powertrains. 

• 82% of electric vehicle owners say they'll buy another EV compared to 73% of last year respondents that indicated they would “only” buy an EV moving forward.

• 55% of baby boomers said they’d buy an EV again, and 31% said they’d be going back to a gas-only household, more than any other generation.

• 64% (nearly two-thirds) of the respondents said they’d always own a gas or hybrid car along with their EV—with that number jumping to 69% for non-Tesla owners.

Why it matters: It reaffirms that all the naysaying about the viability of the EV market is misguided, or better reserved for conversations among those who simply refuse to adapt. As Thomas puts it, it’s not that the EV market is losing ground; “it’s just rolling downhill slowly.” 

Between the lines: One of the most interesting shifts highlighted in the ownership study involves the EV purchase process for buyers. 

• The number of buyers who test drove an electric vehicle before purchasing one increased from 91% last year to 95%. 

• 61% of non-Tesla owners said it was the salesperson who convinced them to purchase an EV, increasing from 56% last year. 

• 73% of Gen Z respondents indicated that the salesperson influenced their EV purchase compared to just 40% of boomers.   

Digging deeper: The study also spotlights some of the trouble spots for EV ownership.

• Charging away from home continues to be an issue, with only 45% of EV owners indicating they faced no problems with long-distance traveling. 

• The number of people who were able to get a same-day service appointment for their EVs dropped from 40% to 28%—with 29% having to wait a day. 

• EV owners who waited three days for service increased from 9% to 14%—with 65% of EV owners requiring two service visits to get their issues resolved.

On a positive note, only 13% of the EV owners surveyed indicated they had to partially or fully pay for the service, with the majority being covered under warranty or recall.   

Bottom line: At some point, dealerships (specifically those leading sales and service teams) might want to ask themselves–are they giving EVs the attention they deserve, or simply hoping that the vehicles run their course in their market? One might find that their store’s success or failure in the sector lies in their answer to that very question.

Outsmart the Car Market in 5 Minutes a Week

No-BS insights, built for car dealers. Free, fast, and trusted by 95,000+ auto pros.

Subscribe now — it’s free. 

Is dirty customer data killing your retention?

Experian Automotive found 61% of dealer records have bad data—

• Wrong names 

• Old addresses 

• Even outdated ownership records

When your customers move, change jobs, or start families, your data can fall behind—costing you sales. The fix? Experian Automotive’s first-party data solutions clean, verify, and enrich your records so your marketing hits the mark.

Better data means better engagement, smarter targeting, and fewer missed opportunities.

Don’t let dirty data hold you back—stay connected and stay ahead with Experian Automotive.