Electric Vehicle Sales Slump as Americans Stick With Gas

Big auto manufacturers focus on producing hybrid models over fully electric vehicles.

A woman prepares to charge her Tesla in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Jan. 17, 2024. A cold snap across the United States and Canada has exposed a big vulnerability for electric vehicle owners. AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

MESA, Ariz.—Behind all the aggressive marketing of electric vehicles lies a promising technology that’s still a work in progress, says James Haas, used car manager at Berge Toyota in Mesa, Arizona.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are still costly to produce and maintain, he says. Many don’t hold their value like gasoline-powered cars do, and most consumers still can’t afford to buy them with an average $40,000 price tag.