BMW Group Survey: US Buyers Want Big Range, Even If Daily Drives Are Short

A new BMW Group survey of 1,005 American adults has surfaced a striking contradiction in how US drivers think about electric vehicles. Roughly 73% of respondents said their everyday driving amounts to 75 miles or less, yet 42% still insist they would need at least 300 miles of range before seriously considering an EV. The gap suggests that range anxiety today is driven less by actual daily needs and more by what buyers expect a vehicle to be capable of.

Price remains the tougher obstacle. Just over half of those polled, 51%, named cost as the main thing holding them back, even though 68% said they would at least entertain the idea of going electric. Charging speed, however, appears to be a powerful lever. About 53% said they would be more open to an EV if it could add roughly 150 miles of range in a 10-minute stop. That figure climbs to 70% among Gen Z respondents but sits at just 30% for Baby Boomers, a generational split that points to very different comfort levels with the technology.

The survey also hints that perceptions are shifting. Only 56% of respondents now view EV owners as early adopters, down from 62% in 2025, suggesting electric driving is losing its novelty status in the public mind. Meanwhile, 55% said they would consider a used EV provided the savings were substantial enough, opening another potential path to adoption beyond the new-car lot.

Alexander Schleicher, Head of E-Mobility at BMW Group North America, framed the findings as evidence that buyers are judging EVs like any other vehicle. In his view, the conversation has moved toward performance, features and value rather than outdated assumptions about range. He pointed to the company’s sixth-generation battery technology and the all-electric BMW iX5, which carries an EPA-estimated range of up to 435 miles and is the first fully electric BMW assembled in the United States, as examples of where the brand is heading. He also cited the everyday practicality of the electric Mini, arguing that the brands that succeed will be those delivering genuine range, fast charging and a driving experience that meets expectations.

The results carry a clear message for automakers and charging operators alike: the challenge is no longer only about fitting bigger batteries. It is about convincing drivers that charging is fast and convenient enough that a 300-mile threshold stops mattering. With price still the top barrier and generational attitudes diverging sharply, the transition to electric driving in the US looks set to hinge on cost, charging speed and familiarity rather than raw range figures alone.