Quiz: What it’s like to own an electric vehicle

One in five new cars sold globally is now electric. So what’s it actually like to own one? Are EV drivers constantly hunting for chargers and sweating over battery percentages, or have they found electric life surprisingly smooth? The Global EV Alliance, a nonprofit network of national EV drivers’ associations, polled more than 27,500 electric car owners across 30 countries in September and October to find out. Norway dominated the responses with more than 15,000 participants, while India was the only South Asian country included. Most respondents were male (86%) and over 55. Think you know what’s on the minds of EV drivers? Test yourself.

1. What percentage of EV drivers say they always experience queues at fast charging stations?

1. 1%
2. 21%
3. 32%
4. 40%

2. What do EV drivers consider the biggest disadvantage of owning an electric vehicle?

1. Charging takes too long
2. Chargers are often broken
3. Not enough range
4. No disadvantages

3. What percentage of EV drivers frequently experience range anxiety?

1. 2%
2. 11%
3. 32%
4. 67%

4. Which country’s EV drivers have the highest rate of range anxiety?

1. Costa Rica
2. U.S.
3. India
4. Latvia

5. Which EV brand do drivers most avoid for political reasons?

1. BYD
2. Tesla
3. Ford
4. Nissan

6. Which country has the highest percentage of EV drivers avoiding Chinese-made EVs?

1. U.S.
2. Mexico
3. Norway
4. Lithuania

The answers

1. A

Despite fears about EV infrastructure, only 1% of drivers said they always face queues at fast chargers (those delivering more than 50 kilowatts.) Globally, just 25% said they line up “occasionally” or “often,” while 40% said they never need to wait at all.

2. D

A total of 45% of owners had no complaints, up from 40% in 2024. For those who did cite drawbacks, charging-related concerns dominated.

3. B

The vast majority of EV drivers, around 76%, say they don’t experience range anxiety at all. Only 9% agreed they frequently worry about running out of charge, and just 2% strongly agreed. The 11% who experience range anxiety is a slight improvement from 2024’s survey.

4. C

A striking 59% of Indian respondents said they often experience range anxiety — by far the highest of any country surveyed, and dramatically above the global average of 11%. India’s still-developing charging infrastructure likely plays a role.

5. B

Globally, 41% of EV drivers said they would avoid Tesla for political reasons. The avoidance was strongest in the U.S., where 52% said they’d steer clear. Germany, Ireland, and Australia all topped 45%. In India, however, just 2% would avoid Tesla, and only 5% in Mexico. Overall, 53% of respondents said they avoid at least some brands for political reasons.

6. D

About 43% of Lithuanian respondents, from a sample of 105 drivers, said they would avoid Chinese EVs for political reasons. Estonia followed at 41%, and Denmark at 37%. Globally, 12% of respondents named China as a country of origin they would avoid. The survey didn’t ask for specific reasons. The Global EV Alliance noted that consumers in markets with more brand options tend to avoid specific brands rather than countries of origin.