With gas prices surging every day, some auto industry analysts believe that consumers may start shopping for hybrids and EV’s again.
Jeff Gilbert, a reporter in Detroit who covers the automotive industry, told KNX News’ Jon Baird that it depends on the region.
“Obviously, California gas prices are much higher than the rest of the country,” he said. “California is also a big EV market already, so you would likely see people in California turn more to EVs before the rest of the country. Well, here in Michigan, our gas prices are a little bit higher, but they're still in the low to mid $3 a gallon. So for the rest of the country, for it to have an impact on what people are buying, the war would have to drag on a lot longer, push up gas prices a lot more, and again, nobody knows what's going to happen because we don't have a crystal ball.”
A driver named Jason told Baird he was considering zero emission vehicles.
“I've looked into Teslas and Priuses,” he said. “I mean all of them. Anything that will help me save money at the gas pump, probably.”
One woman driving her Tesla told Baird it costs around $25 to fill up her car.
“And that's way better than the $75, $80,” she said.
EV sales took a hit last fall when the Trump Administration ended the tax incentives for buying electric vehicles.
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