Potential EV Buyers Rate Price and Safety Above New Features Like ‘Frunks’

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Electric vehicle technology can feel outdated quickly as car companies offer the latest updates to their models each year. Automakers are still tinkering with how to maximize profits by offering new features like front trunks, or “frunks,” and revving sounds for sportier cars to replicate the noise of a gas-powered engine (without the gas).

But as uncertainty in an already shaky auto market rises amid the United Auto Workers strike, potential buyers are likely to gravitate toward traditional selling points like fair prices and safety over cutting-edge technology.

For example, new Morning Consult data shows that at least 9 in 10 potential buyers likely to purchase an EV within the next year said safety and price are important when considering a vehicle purchase. 

There’s still interest in EV features like one-pedal driving and traditional driving sounds, though the share is much lower compared with the top selling points like price: Roughly half of potential EV buyers (53%) said those features are important when considering their next purchase.

Automakers have seen mixed results with some of the flashier features in newer vehicles.

They’re working for some automakers such as GM, which rolled out its Ultifi end-to-end software platform in some vehicles earlier this year. The platform gives drivers the option to pay for additional features on an app to customize their driving experience. Last year, the company said its Ultifi plans could generate up to $25 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

But other automakers like BMW are rolling back some subscription add-ons, like heated seats, after consumers said that they felt they were paying double for the service.

Many consumers willing to overlook EV battery range for better vehicle prices

While consumers still have plenty of concerns surrounding an EV’s battery range, price remains the higher priority when purchasing an EV. If they were to purchase an EV within the next two years, more than half of adults, car owners and likely EV buyers in the next 12 months would prioritize how much it costs over the battery range, per Morning Consult data. Meanwhile, roughly 2 in 5 said the latter was more important than the price. 

Additionally, charging access remains a sticking point: 54% of likely EV buyers in the next year cite the unavailability or the distance of charging stations as a reason that would make them less likely to buy an EV. The public’s concern over charging remains high despite efforts by the public and private sectors to increase the availability of charging infrastructure in the United States.

Since price is more important than range for many consumers, one alternative might be the option to include cheaper batteries to drive down the EV’s overall cost.

While a subscription-based model for batteries is not the industry norm, automakers like VinFast are testing it out in an attempt to lower the cost of their EVs. If the company can lower the cost of an EV’s most expensive components by offering cheaper subscription options for consumers who aren’t planning to drive as often, it could entice customers with a lower overall price. 

The survey found that around half of consumers who are considering an EV purchase within the next year would be less likely to do so if there were high upfront costs, so VinFast’s strategy might work to capture that market.

EV tax credits, leasing could help alleviate some cost concerns

As costs remain a top concern for EV consumers, cashing in on a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 could incentivize potential buyers.

While more than half of adults support the tax credits, similar to levels seen earlier this year, support is higher among potential buyers and those who already own EVs and hybrids. 

When considering a purchase or lease within the next year, half of consumers who knew about the tax credit said they’d purchase an electric vehicle.

Making an expensive, long-term investment by purchasing an EV, even with the help of a tax credit, is still a major commitment in today’s inflationary market. 

Automakers should continue to tout their safety records and offer a wide array of zero-emission vehicles, but a shift toward more affordable leasing options could be the key to helping first-time buyers make the EV leap. 

For now, potential buyers aren’t too interested in forking over the extra cash for a “frunk” or other EV upgrades. But if automakers take advantage of the current market by offering less costly leasing options, consumers might be more willing to make those upgrades after spending a couple of years driving vehicles that employ new technology.

Luxury upgrades will then start to turn into preferences, of which there are plenty to choose from in Tesla’s models and in GM’s Ultifi platform, offering another way for automakers to make some cash.