AAA survey shows many still reticent about buying electric cars

More than half the people surveyed in New York and New England states said they never plan to buy an electric car, according to a report released Thursday by the AAA Northeast auto club.

Cost concerns and charging stations were cited as the biggest obstacles to consumers going electric, according to the survey of 1,749 people in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

"It’s kind of a dichotomy of people who either think they’ll get one soon or they’re not interested at all," said Alec Slatky, AAA Northeast’s managing director of public and government affairs. "You have to meet the consumers where they are and if they say they’re not ready for an electric vehicle, you have to make sure public charging is much better."

On Long Island, which leads New York with more than 62,000 registered electrical vehicles, advocates and sustainability experts said more education is needed to spread awareness about how the vehicles operate and can be charged at home.

There are more than 100 charging stations scattered across Long Island from Nassau County to Montauk. But some drivers are still apprehensive about using public charging stations and taking the time to fully recharge cars, according to the survey.

The survey also found that 37% of those who answered either already own an electric vehicle or said they may buy one by 2035. Only 8% of respondents said they would buy one after 2036 when government regulations in several states could target eliminating the sale of new gas-powered vehicles.

"The automotive industry is clearly indicating where the winds are blowing with entry into the electric market and eventually leading to the exit of the gas market," Slatky said.

Finding charging stations is less of an issue on Long Island, which is made up of over 80% of single-family homes and primarily commuters, said Rosemary Mascali, chair of the education and outreach committee for Drive Electric Long Island

She said most electric car owners, especially on Long Island, charge overnight at home and can save up to 40% on overnight PSEG Long Island electric rates. Public charging stations for Tesla can be also used by other vehicles with adapters.

"There’s still a lot of fear about charging that’s unwarranted," Mascali said. "I think people who don’t drive an electric vehicle or don’t have access to home charging might be concerned about that or on long trips. On Long Island, the ability to charge overnight at home is like charging your phone."

Chris Flynn, 49, of Plainview, was charging his Tesla for about 45 minutes Wednesday at a charging station in Melville. He said he has owned the Tesla for about six years and uses it to commute out of state. He said would not likely buy another electric vehicle after experiencing delays from charging and degraded battery life in extreme weather.

"The performance was one of the factors why I got it when gas prices were getting higher," Flynn said. “Even though Tesla has one of the biggest charging networks, it definitely takes some time."

Education about electric vehicles and expanding charging stations to workplaces will be the biggest factor in changing perception, said Andrew Manitt, deputy director of the sustainability institute at Molloy University.

He said the proximity to charging stations is more of a factor while driving long trips, but he urged families to buy at least one electric vehicle to save mileage and help improve the environment.

"The vast majority of drivers on Long Island could have an electric car and not have to go to a public charging station" if charging is done at home, Manitt said. "With any new technology, people are going to have questions and may be hesitant to change. Electric vehicles are more convenient and cheaper with less maintenance and there’s no downside for the vast majority of my driving."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.