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78% of Americans Would Consider Renting an EV as a Way to 'Try Before they Buy' According to Verra Mobility Survey
Misconceptions on charging and maintenance rank among the top concerns from majority of U.S. drivers despite growing popularity of electric vehicles MESA,
About this update from Verra Mobility Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"Misconceptions on charging and maintenance rank among the top concerns from majority of U.S. drivers despite growing popularity of electric vehicles \nMESA, Ariz., June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, today released a new report, \"The State of EVs, 2023 Report on Smart Mobility\" on consumer perceptions of electric vehicles (EVs). Verra Mobility polled 2,000 Americans aged 25 and older on their perspective around renting an EV, and views around safety, convenience, and the decision to purchase one in 2023. The survey had many surprising findings including that 78% of Americans would consider renting an EV as a way to 'test drive' the technology before buying.\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAccording to research from Modor Intelligence, the EV rental car market was valued at $9.13 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $20.42 billion by 2027. Verra Mobility found that 27% of survey respondents had previously rented an EV (19% for personal use, and 8% for business). Of those who had rented an EV, 64% would consider buying an EV based on their driving experience.\n\"Renting an EV is a helpful way to get drivers more comfortable and alleviate concerns,\" said Steve Lalla, executive vice president of commercial services at Verra Mobility. \"For many people, driving an EV isn't intuitive. There's anxiety around the unknown, like maintenance, locating charging stations and how to pay to recharge.\"\nVerra Mobility's survey also explored perceptions around EVs, finding that 63% of respondents expected maintenance costs to be higher with EVs versus gas vehicles, despite research from Car & Driver finding the opposite to be true. Survey respondents also thought incidents of roadside assistance would be greater with EVs. However, 77% of respondents felt that EVs were as safe or safer than gas powered automobiles.\nLalla added: \"Consumers are becoming more curious about testing out EVs, and these vehicles present business travelers with opportunities to support their own companies' sustainability efforts. Our survey findings and Verra Mobility's own research illustrate opportunities for the industry to help consumers understand and become more comfortable with the nuances of driving electric.\" \nDespite the growing popularity of EVs, concerns such as...