Americans Are No Longer Plugged in to EVs

July 2, 2024

Polls show Americans are losing interest in electric vehicles despite aggressive pushes by the Biden administration to electrify transportation.

 

A Pew Research Center study released last week reported only 29% of Americans are interested in buying an electric vehicle- a 9% drop from 38% in 2023. Cost, electricity range in regard to chargers, and charging time are the driver’s top three concerns when considering an EV reports Politico’s Energywire.

 

Driving the electric vehicle agenda is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) multipollutant rule, requiring 69% of light duty vehicles be electric or hybrid electric by 2032. However, Pew’s research reported 58% of those polled opposed rules pressuring Americans to buy EVs in the allotted time.

 

“The research reaffirms the point we have been making,” IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Dave Rylander said. “The United States does not have the consumer interest, infrastructure, or economic reality to support a surge in electric vehicle sales. The EPA’s plan has many loopholes. However, ethanol and biofuels are a solution we can use immediately to decarbonize our transportation sector and lower emissions.”

 

Across the United States, ethanol is added to at least 10% of most baseline fuel. A renewable resource, ethanol lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to gasoline. Products such as E15 and E85 offer Americans significant cost cuts. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) reports during the 2022 driving season, drivers saved at least 25 cents per gallon on E15.

 

Additionally, access to charging stations and grid power is a concern of many rural Americans. The University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reported two-thirds of Americans do not know the closest public charging station. In May, Pew reported only 17% of rural Americans live less than a mile from a charging station opposed to 60% in urban areas. As of February, urban areas account for almost 90% of charging ports in the United States.

 

“Let’s meet Americans where they are and bring biofuels into the GHG reduction conversation,” Rylander said. “We have a problem and a realistic solution to fix it.”

< Older Post

 Newer Post >
Evan playing in dirt

Ellen’s Story: Putting Safety First for My Little One

By Tara Desmond • September 22, 2025
Two year old Evan on the farm.
Jason at his farm in Manito

When Law Meets Agriculture: Jason Proehl Bridges Two Worlds

By Tara Desmond • September 19, 2025
Jason Proehl isn’t just a fifth-generation farmer—he’s also an attorney who helps families protect their farms for the next generation.
Corn stalks in focus, with a combine harvesting corn in a field on a sunny day.

Farm Economy Temperature Survey

By Lyndi Allen • September 18, 2025
Illinois farmers are concerned about their farms and the need for changes in production costs. Policy action is needed to expand ethanol blends, improve market access, and address high input costs.
man on farm working on equipment

Power Take-Off (PTO) Safety: Protecting Yourself from Hidden Farm Hazards

By Tara Desmond • September 18, 2025
It Seemed Routine—Until It Wasn’t
Collin Watters at podium

IL Corn Strengthens Trade Ties with Japan with USGBC and Illinois Economic Development Association

By Tara Desmond • September 18, 2025
IL Corn joined the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council and Illinois Economic Development Association on a Japan trade mission, strengthening global markets for Illinois corn and ethanol and fostering new opportunities for farmers.
Winners

Consider Corn Challenge Winners Announced

September 18, 2025
An air filter made from corn? That's right -- this company and more are coming up with innovative solutions using corn.
Show More