The march toward electrification is still moving forward, even if the momentum has slowed in recent months. One key reason the positive push remains is the devoted legion of EV owners. This group has taken the plunge to go electric and they’re going to keep buying EVs well into the future.
For the second year in a row, CDK – one of the largest software suppliers to car dealers and automakers – surveyed hundreds of EV owners to better understand their day-to-day lives with the technology and their attitudes toward it. Four out of five (82 percent) owners say they’ll buy another EV in the future, a significant number that suggests a solid future for EV sales.
Nevertheless, 69 percent of owners say they’ll “always” own a gas or hybrid car along with an EV. This suggests they believe there are specific limitations to the technology and are hedging their bets. However, this contradicts many of the study’s findings that illustrate just how much owners utilize their EVs in all driving scenarios as well as a passion for the vehicles themselves.
In the 2024 study, the love for EVs was off the charts. This year, the numbers across the board feel less enthusiastic even though they’re still quite high. For example, when asked if they were happy with their purchase, 93 percent of EV owners last year said yes. In 2025, the number fell to a still healthy 86 percent. Does this mean the glow is fading? Perhaps.
But one significant change made to the CDK study makeup may have indirectly altered the results. Last year, CDK ensured half of the respondents were Tesla owners, reflecting the market share at the time. This year, noting the inroads of traditional automakers in the EV space and Tesla’s diminishing market share, the Tesla owner makeup is closer to a quarter of the respondents.
And Tesla owners are more enthusiastic about their car than other EV owners. Take those two factors and you get a pretty solid explanation for the lower overall results for owner satisfaction. Still, 68 percent of non-Tesla owners said their EV was the best car they’d ever owned, and 65 percent said it was the best car they’d ever driven. Tesla owners in comparison ranked those at 75 percent and 71 percent, respectively. The survey took place between the 2024 presidential election and 2025 presidential inauguration, so Elon Musk’s political leanings were well publicized over this period.
Each year new EVs improve and evolve with most delivering well over 200 miles of range. Nearly every new EV sold in California (the country’s largest EV market) had more than 200 miles of range in 2024. Three-quarters (76 percent) of respondents in the CDK study said their EVs had 350 miles of range or more. And that number was negatively impacted compared to the year before because of the lower number of Tesla owners because Teslas generally have ranges higher than 250 miles.
Still, these higher numbers had a big impact on charging behavior. Extensive range meant less people charged every day, falling from 38 percent last year to 34 percent this year. And the number who charge every third day grew from 20 percent to 23 percent.
Less EV owners are installing Level 2 chargers in their homes as well, falling from 76 percent last year to 63 percent this year. Nearly half (46 percent) said it was a “hassle” to deal with a charger, up from 36 percent last year. Of those without a home charger, 82 percent said they charge at a public charging network. Only 9 percent of these owners said they charge at work.
Longer range and faster charging time is improving the road trip experience as well. Almost half (45 percent) of EV owners said they faced no problems on long-distance trips in terms of charging or reaching their destination. The most common issue – with nearly a quarter of Tesla and non-Tesla owners – was occupied charging stations and having to wait. And road trips are getting longer. The number of owners who took road trips 750 miles or more grew from 18 percent to 27 percent
The debate on future EV sales often centers around the current tax incentives for both new and used EVs, which are likely to disappear by year-end. While this may significantly impact sales, especially EV lease transactions, most EV owners said tax incentives had little impact on their overall decision to go electric.
Just 7 percent of owners said the tax incentive was the top motivator to purchase an EV. The main motivation was cost efficiency with environmental impact second. More than three-quarters (76 percent) of owners said they saved money by driving an EV.
The future sales success of EVs may be in doubt with shifting economic and political winds, but by listening to owners, it’s apparent there will be a steady base of future buyers. Increasing range, additional models entering the EV market, and more infrastructure investments (private and public) should bolster the technology’s success as well. The biggest question on everyone’s mind is: Just how quickly will EV market share grow?
David Thomas is Director of Content Marketing at CDK Global, a leading provider of cloud-based software to dealerships and original equipment manufacturers across automotive and related industries.
There was a time when environmental leadership in the auto industry was a scarce commodity. Seventeen years ago, when Green Car Journal announced its first Green Car of the Year® in Los Angeles, it was difficult to identify more than a few dozen truly worthy vehicles to be considered for the honor. Today it is a formidable challenge in a different way. Now, analyzing the expansive field of green cars that champion greater environmental performance can be downright mind numbing, along with the process of honing the list down to a manageable number of candidates for each of our Green Car Awards™.
Still, this is a great problem to have and we’re up to the challenge. In fact, we celebrate the difficult and time-consuming process. This sheer number of greener models means that all of us benefit from the ability to buy and drive an increasing number of vehicles that champion a lighter impact on the environment.
As finalists are evaluated during the judging process, Green Car Journal weighs an array of important criteria such as environmental achievement, cost, value, safety, performance, functionality, and availability. These may vary from one award category to another. For instance, cost is less of a factor in Luxury Green Car of the Year™; greater driving range may not be as critical in Urban Green Car of the Year™; and immediate availability is less of an issue for Commercial Green Car of the Year™, since commercial fleets tend to plan well ahead and are used to scheduled batch builds of specialized vehicles. Some criteria take on more importance, such as electric driving range in most categories where EVs are considered; family friendliness in awards where passenger needs or capacity are important; and tow ratings and realistic long-distance towing and hauling capabilities in the case of Green Truck of the Year™.
There are more complex issues at play today. We’ve seen order banks for some new or popular pickups like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Ford Maverick suddenly close for the model year, which means consumers are no longer able to order one, at least at this time. Since price is an important consideration for most award categories, when we see sudden price hikes in the thousands of dollars, we also take notice. Then there’s the issue of supply chain disruptions and materials shortages that can delay a model’s expected availability. We take all of this into account and dive deep to ensure we’re as up to speed as possible to avoid potential surprises.
Green Car Journal’s Green Car Awards™ program has evolved over the years, most notably with the addition of more award categories to reflect the ever changing and expanding world of environmentally positive vehicles. Plus, along with the ‘greenest’ vehicles honored by the 2023 Green Car Awards™ program, Green Car Journal now recognizes the crucial roles that infrastructure and technology play in enabling a more sustainable driving future.
Let's get to it. Here are the winners of Green Car Journal’s prestigious 2023 Green Car Awards™:
TOYOTA CROWN – The Crown is Toyota's sophisticated new flagship that champions high fuel economy, lower carbon emissions, and appealing style. The five-passenger sedan features a stylish and high tech cabin designed to offer a premium feel. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter THS hybrid estimated to deliver 38 combined mpg, or a more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged HYBRID MAX powerplant with 340 horsepower. On-demand all-wheel drive is standard.
Finalists for Green Car Journal’s legacy award included the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Nissan Ariya, Toyota bZ4X, Toyota Crown, and Volkswagen ID.4.
CADILLAC LYRIQ – Featuring upscale styling and a premium theme, the Lyriq is Cadillac’s first all-electric vehicle that’s offered in single or dual motor versions with rear- or all-wheel drive. At a base price of $62,990, the Lyriq features an impressive 312 mile driving range. Satisfying performance is delivered by 340 horsepower in the single motor variant and 500 horsepower in the dual motor version.
Among this award’s finalists were the Cadillac Lyriq, Genesis GV60, Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz EQB, and Polestar 2.
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV – Last year’s introduction of the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander made waves with its more dynamic styling and upscale features. Now the next-generation Outlander PHEV has joined the lineup. Featuring standard all-wheel drive, the twin motor plug-in hybrid SUV now features significantly greater battery electric range of 38 miles and 420 miles overall, plus the addition of three-row seating that was unavailable in the previous generation Outlander PHEV.
Finalists included the Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, Toyota Sienna, and Volvo XC40.
RAM 1500 –The RAM 1500 is a model of versatility and functionality that provides pickup buyers loads of choices. It’s available in Quad Cab and Crew Cab configurations, offers two pickup box lengths, two- or four-wheel drive, and diverse power options. These include two hybrids – a 3.6-liter eTorque V-6 and 5.7-liter eTorque HEMI V-8 – plus a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel and 6.2-liter supercharged V-8. RAM can carry payloads up to 2300 pounds tow trailers up to 12,750 pounds.
Finalists considered for this award were the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, RAM 1500, and Toyota Tundra.
FISKER OCEAN – The all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV features an appealing and sporty design enhanced by an attractive and uncluttered high-tech interior. It’s available in three versions with a driving range of 250 to 350 miles. Beyond its zero-emission electric drive, Fisker is committed to making the Ocean a model of sustainability with over 110 pounds of recycled materials used in its construction, including crushed carbon fiber and plastics from bottles and fishing nets.
Finalists for this award were the Audi Q4 e-tron, Fisker Ocean, Honda CR-V, Kia EV6, and Subaru Solterra.
FORD F-150 LIGHTNING PRO – The F-150 Lightning PRO available to fleets offers 240 to 320 miles of all electric range, depending on battery pack, with a payload capacity up to 2235 pounds. Towing capability up to 10,000 pounds is ideal for urban and regional applications where long-distance towing is not required, since towing can significantly reduce electric range. It’s available with Pro Power Onboard outlets for power at job sites. A Special Services Vehicle variant is made for non-pursuit police department applications.
Finalists for the award were the Brightdrop EV600, Ford E-Transit, Ford F-150 Lightning PRO, Rivian Delivery Van, and Via Motors Chassis Cab.
MINI COOPER SE ELECTRIC – The fully electric MINI Cooper SE carries on the tradition of the MINI as a diminutive two-door hardtop with a fun-to-drive nature and go-kart handling, adding the important distinction of zero-emission operation. The Cooper SE Electric is an ideal vehicle for urban environments, offering a small physical footprint, easy maneuverability, and an electric driving range of 114 miles between charges.
Finalists included the BMW X1, Chevrolet Bolt, Kia Niro, MINI Cooper SE Electric, and Nissan Versa.
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4XE – The Grand Cherokee 4xe offers all the outstanding features of Jeep’s conventional SUV with the addition of plug-in hybrid capability. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine and two electric motors delivering a total of 375 horsepower. This Trail Rated Jeep features 25 miles of zero-emission on- and off-road driving and a combined 470 miles of range, can tow up to 6,000 pounds, and ford up to 24 inches of water since all high-volt electronics are sealed and waterproof.
Vying for this award were the RAM 1500 eTorque, Ford F-150 Lightning, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and Rivian R1T.
FREEWIRE TECHNOLOGIES BOOST CHARGER – Freewire Technologies’ Boost Charger integrates lithium-ion battery storage to eliminate the need for expensive electrical service upgrades at gas stations adding EV fast charging. Phillips 66 has installed a Boost Charger at a station near its Houston headquarters and plans to leverage its network of 7,000 Phillips 66, Conoco, and 76 branded sites with additional Boost Chargers.
Finalists included Clean Energy Fuels RNG Stations, EVgo Autocharge+, Electrify America Megawatt Energy Storage, Freewire Boost Charger, and SparkCharge Roadie.
LI-CYCLE SPOKE & HUB TECHNOLOGIES – Li-Cycle’s Spoke & Hub system recycles end-of-life lithium-ion battery packs without requiring dismantling. Batteries undergo a submerged shredding process at regional Spoke facilities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe that produces no wastewater, with the output a black mass consisting of critical metals including lithium, cobalt, and nickel. A centralized Hub facility then processes the black mass and creates battery grade materials for reuse.
Finalists considered for this award were BMW eDrive Zones, ConnectDER, Ford Home Integration System, GM Hydrotec Fuel Cell Power Cubes, and Li-Cycle Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling.
Rising above a substantial field of ‘green’ competitors to become a Green Car Awards™ candidate is a noteworthy achievement in itself. To honor these vehicles, all finalists considered in a Green Car Awards™ category are recognized for their commendable environmental achievement with Green Car Journal’s 2023 Green Car Product of Excellence™.