TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Democratic Party has been vigorously promoting electric vehicles (EVs), led by President Biden, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Yet despite the substantial investment of billions in taxpayer dollars into “clean energy” initiatives supporting battery plants, charging stations, and tax credits, in addition to oppressive regulations to get rid of coal, EVs have yet to gain significant traction with the general public.
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This trend is particularly noticeable in Northern Michigan, where the weather presents additional challenges and charging stations are scarce.
Sales of EVs in the United States in 2023 were only 1.6 million.
MarketWatch cites an increase of 60% year over year in national EV sales from 1 million in 2022 to 1.6 million in 2023. However, with a licensed driving population of over 242 million people, those numbers are nothing to brag about.
Up in the Traverse City area, UpNorthLive asked their viewing audience last week “what is preventing you from purchasing an electric vehicle?”
Why Northern Michigan is not buying EVs.
Their Facebook post garnered more than 1700 comments as of Wednesday morning and their survey yielded the following answers: 36% said cost, 30% cited charging concerns, and 26% answered reliability.
With the cost of most electric vehicles averaging about $55,000 it’s no surprise that “cost” was the top issue referenced.
Facebook user P.J. Coldren said, “Cost. Cost. Cost. Lack of knowledge with regard to location of charging stations AND how one pays for this. See also: cost.”
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John Brown echoed his statement saying, “Cost, lack of charging stations and battery replacement costs.”
Under the “reliability” heading, Kevin Gillespie said, “People depend on their work vehicles for their livelihood. Not reliable. Electric is Great for blowing leaves and mowing the law. If it’s not charged… the grass can wait…business does not wait.”
Cost, battery life and inconsistency don’t make the EVs a good choice for Michiganders.
Brandi Ann concurred and explained why EVs are not good in cold states. She commented, “I live in Michigan where the weather 6 months of the year at least has a great impact on the battery. The cost to replace anything, the cost of the car, the cost to power it, the fact that I can see it’s a bigger problem than a solution…”
Reasons for pushback against EVs are plentiful.
Other commenters had various quips about the question asking why they aren’t buying Evs and answered “my intelligence,” “respect for our environment” and many answered “common sense” in their comments.
Shawn Whalen said, “Where do we charge the vehicle? I live in a rural area.”
His point seems to be well taken considering the lack of charging stations in many areas of the state.
Not enough infrastructure in the Mitten State to make EVs a feasible alternative.
Although a recent article in MLive pointed to the fact that the state’s EV infrastructure is growing faster than the national average, the EV charging stations are reported to be mostly in the lower half of the state, concentrated in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Detroit and Ann Arbor.
The northern part of the state doesn’t have much to plug into with only 40 charging stations north of Clare and a mere nine of them in the Upper Peninsula.
Nationally, the reluctance to buy EVs mirrors concerns of Michiganders.
This local anti-EV perspective in Michigan reflects national trends, emphasizing that until the cited concerns are comprehensively addressed, EVs are unlikely to become the preferred choice for many Americans.
According to a 2023 AAA Newsroom national survey asking the same question about why drivers aren’t interesting in buying EVs, most people had more than one reason they pointed to when answering the question. The main reasons cited included: Cost (59%), lack of charging stations (56%), cost to replace or repair the battery (55%) and range anxiety (53%).
The feedback on EVs from Traverse City residents underscores a broader hesitation across the nation regarding electric vehicle adoption. Despite governmental efforts and incentives, the barriers of cost, charging infrastructure, and reliability remain significant hurdles – and most likely will continue to be for some time to come until the concerns of drivers are addressed.
