Research and consultancy firm Gartner, Inc. said that most consumers are turn off from buying electric vehicles on concerns about pricing, usability and cost savings requirements. This, despite an overwhelming positive response towards fully battery-operated electric vehicles (EVs).

The analysis of Gartner's latest EV readiness study conducted in the first quarter of 2011 showed 21 percent of U.S. drivers want to consider an EV for their next vehicle purchase - the fourth-highest-ranked powertrain technology choice after gasoline, hybrid and natural-gas-powered cars, and before diesel-powered vehicles. However, nearly one-third of U.S. drivers interested in EVs are not willing to pay a premium price for an electric car, and only 5 percent are willing to pay $10,000 more.

"EVs primarily face a market adoption problem, not an infrastructure challenge, to move from early adopters to mainstream buyers," said Thilo Koslowski, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "The ideal EV does not exist yet in today's automotive market and will likely require another technology generation before it arrives. Consumer sentiment regarding EVs is still positive, but is beginning to show areas of concerns for automotive manufacturers when compared to 2010. EVs must provide better cost-value ratios and convince consumers that no significant behavioral changes are needed before becoming a large-scale, consumer alternative for traditional internal-combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid powertrain technologies."

The survey results showed 22 percent of respondents would be satisfied with a 120-mile range from an EV, and 12 percent would find 30 to 60 miles acceptable. Fifty-six percent of respondents consider a recharging time of four to 12 hours acceptable.

Gartner believes that automotive companies, government organizations and infrastructure providers are too focused on new EV product development and sociopolitical and infrastructure development objectives, but are paying less attention to critical consumer considerations that will determine the success of EVs and e-mobility, especially in the short term.

"Neither traditional nor emerging automakers will be able to afford 'halo' and first-to-market EV models in the long term on their own," Mr. Koslowski said. "Automotive companies must continue to hedge their bets by increasing collaboration with suppliers and competitors to support a diverse powertrain technology portfolio, consider new pricing models - such as offering battery lease programs, as well as offer connected, mobile applications to improve the customer's EV ownership experience."

According to Gartner, governments will need to increase funding of consumer purchase programs in order to achieve substantial EV sales in the short term. If the goal is to reduce dependency on oil and address environmental issues, then governments must broaden their policies and funding to include other powertrain technologies that offer reduced energy consumption or consider encouraging the use of public transportation and alternative mobility solutions, such as car sharing.

Infrastructure and service providers are likely the primary beneficiaries of the current EV evolution. Utility companies, in particular, have the opportunity to play a more dominant role in the emerging e-mobility future, because U.S. consumers prefer to have their utilities address their potential EV infrastructure needs.

Gartner maintains its 2009 prediction that in industrialized automotive markets, the number of battery-powered vehicles (plug-in full-electric and plug-in hybrid EVs) as a percentage of all vehicles sold using various types of propulsion technologies will range from 5 percent to 8 percent of all vehicle sales by 2020, and from 15 percent to 20 percent of all vehicle sales by 2030.

"EVs will become one of the design elements in addressing our future transportation needs," Mr. Koslowski said. "Future mobility concepts will consist of diverse powertrain choices and business models that will leverage technology to satisfy consumers' transportation needs while challenging traditional car ownership."