1 in 5 Drivers Want an Electric Vehicle, Survey Says

Concern for the environment has car owners shopping for a change. A new AAA survey finds that 20 percent of Americans say they are likely to go electric for their next car purchase, up from 15 percent in 2017.

Of the Americans who are likely to purchase an electric car, 80 percent are motivated by their concerns for the environment, 67 percent are interested in the lower long-term costs, 54 percent want the cutting-edge technology, and 35 percent want access to the carpool lane.

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The sticker shock associated with electric vehicles might be enough to ward off potential owners. To cushion the blow to your wallet, the federal government and select states provide tax incentives for electric car owners. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and New York all offer state tax rebates for electric vehicles in addition to the $2,500 to $7,500 federal tax credit.

The market for electric vehicles is growing. In the last six years, electric vehicles have experienced a meteoric sales boom as over 2 million have hit the roads, as compared to a few thousand in 2012, according to BIS Research, a global market intelligence, research and advisory company. To help “green” car shoppers make an informed purchase, AAA conducts independent test-track evaluations of plug-in hybrids, hybrids and fuel-efficient, gas-powered vehicles. Vehicles are rated on the criteria that are most important to car buyers, including ride quality, safety and performance.

In 2018, the following vehicles earned AAA’s Top Green Vehicle award:

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 1 in 5 Drivers Want an Electric Vehicle, Survey Says