Consumer Reports has released the results from its largest ever national survey, and it found that over a third of Americans are interested in buying electric vehicles.
There is reason to be optimistic about an EV future when Consumer Reports (CR) says that “36% of Americans plan to buy or lease an electric-only vehicle or are seriously considering doing so.” However, the survey of 8,027 Americans nationwide also found that people were surprisingly naive regarding the costs of EV ownership, the capabilities of the newest EVs, and even government incentives.
Of the 36% of people interested in buying an electric vehicle, the top reasons for their interest included low charging costs (33%), lower lifetime vehicle costs (31%), and lower maintenance costs (28%). Around 14% of the respondents were part of the most interested group of buyers, a group that has grown by 4% since a similar CR survey in 2020.
Compared to a Texas poll that we covered previously in Teslarati, Consumer Reports‘ poll showed a lower level of interest. They were also almost entirely focused on the cheaper cost of ownership, instead of new technologies or the environmental impact of EVs.
CR notes that data from Cox Automotive last quarter showed that EV sales rose by 76%. This seems to match sales reports from manufacturers this quarter, confirming that interest in EVs is increasing. However, CR put a unique focus on Americans uninterested in buying an EV for their next vehicle.
Unlike the Texas poll that showed that a sizable group simply preferred gas/diesel vehicles, CR did not replicate this result and found three other reasons why consumers were wary of electric cars. About 61% of those who were uninterested in EVs cited a lack of charging infrastructure, 55% cited range anxiety, and 52% said the cost of buying and or maintaining an EV was too high.
While it is unclear if the consumers surveyed were aware of current charging infrastructure or the range of newer electric vehicles, other reasons were often related to a lack of knowledge.
Most predominantly, 46% of respondents were unaware of Federal and State EV purchasing incentives, a factor that could have influenced whether they could afford an EV. Furthermore, while upfront costs for many EVs remain high, the maintenance costs of these vehicles are far lower than that of their ICE counterparts, once again showing that many consumers are unaware of the benefits of EV ownership.
On top of these facts, the demographic that was one of the most likely to be considering buying an EV was people who had either ridden in or had driven EVs within the past year. Only only 7% of respondents have driven an EV in the past year, yet these people account for over 20% of those who are interested in buying EVs. This shows that often people lack the interaction with EVs that could prove pivotal to changing their minds on whether these vehicles are viable for their personal use.
Other demographics that were more likely to buy EVs include men, younger people, people who live in urban areas, those with higher levels of education, and people with higher incomes.
The path forward is clear for auto manufacturers who want to bring more customers in to buy electric vehicles. They must address their concerns about cost, allow potential customers to test drive and experience EV charging, and make them aware of incentives that may help them purchase a vehicle. Each of these tactics will become far more important as more and more manufacturers begin offering EVs, bringing in a wider (and sometimes less knowledgeable) audience.
What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!
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Tesla Supercharger network delivers record 6.7 TWh in 2025
The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets.
Tesla’s Supercharger Network had its biggest year ever in 2025, delivering a record 6.7 TWh of electricity to vehicles worldwide.
To celebrate its busy year, the official @TeslaCharging account shared an infographic showing the Supercharger Network’s growth from near-zero in 2012 to this year’s impressive milestone.
Record 6.7 TWh delivered in 2025
The bar chart shows steady Supercharger energy delivery increases since 2012. Based on the graphic, the Supercharger Network started small in the mid-2010s and accelerated sharply after 2019, when the Model 3 was going mainstream.
Each year from 2020 onward showed significantly more energy delivery, with 2025’s four quarters combining for the highest total yet at 6.7 TWh.
This energy powered millions of charging sessions across Tesla’s growing fleet of vehicles worldwide. The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets. This makes the Supercharger Network loved not just by Tesla owners but EV drivers as a whole.
Resilience after Supercharger team changes
2025’s record energy delivery comes despite earlier 2024 layoffs on the Supercharger team, which sparked concerns about the system’s expansion pace. Max de Zegher, Tesla Director of Charging North America, also highlighted that “Outside China, Superchargers delivered more energy than all other fast chargers combined.”
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog noted the achievement as proof of continued momentum post-layoffs. At the time of the Supercharger team’s layoffs in 2024, numerous critics were claiming that Elon Musk was halting the network’s expansion altogether, and that the team only remained because the adults in the room convinced the juvenile CEO to relent.
Such a scenario, at least based on the graphic posted by the Tesla Charging team on X, seems highly implausible.
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Tesla targets production increase at Giga Berlin in 2026
Plant manager André Thierig confirmed the facility’s stable outlook to the DPA, noting that Giga Berlin implemented no layoffs or shutdowns amid challenging market conditions.
Tesla is looking positively toward 2026 with plans for further growth at its Grünheide factory in Germany, following steady quarterly increases throughout 2025.
Plant manager André Thierig confirmed the facility’s stable outlook to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), noting that Giga Berlin implemented no layoffs or shutdowns despite challenging market conditions.
Giga Berlin’s steady progress
Thierig stated that Giga Berlin’s production actually rose in every quarter of 2025 as planned, stating: “This gives us a positive outlook for the new year, and we expect further growth.” The factory currently supplies over 30 markets, with Canada recently being added due to cost advantages.
Giga Berlin’s expansion is still underway, with the first partial approval for capacity growth being secured. Preparations for a second partial approval are underway, though the implementation of more production capacity would still depend on decisions from Tesla’s US leadership.
Over the year, updates to Giga Berlin’s infrastructure were also initiated. These include the relocation of the Fangschleuse train station and the construction of a new road. Tesla is also planning to start battery cell production in Germany starting 2027, targeting up to 8 GWh annually.
Resilience amid market challenges
Despite a 48% drop in German registrations, Tesla maintained Giga Berlin’s stability. Thierig highlighted this, stating that “We were able to secure jobs here and were never affected by production shutdowns or job cuts like other industrial sites in Germany.”
Thierig also spoke positively towards the German government’s plans to support households, especially those with low and middle incomes, in the purchase and leasing of electric vehicles this 2026. “In our opinion, it is important that the announcement is implemented very quickly so that consumers really know exactly what is coming and when,” the Giga Berlin manager noted.
Giga Berlin currently employs around 11,000 workers, and it produces about 5,000 Model Y vehicles per week, as noted in an Ecomento report. The facility produces the Model Y Premium variants, the Model Y Standard, and the Model Y Performance.
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Tesla revamped Semi spotted, insane 1.2 MW charging video releases
These developments highlight Tesla’s ongoing refinements to the vehicle’s design and infrastructure.
Tesla is gearing up for high-volume Semi production in 2026, with the Class 8 all-electric truck’s revamped variant being spotted in the wild recently. Official footage from Tesla also showed the Semi achieving an impressive 1.2 MW charging rate on a charger.
These developments highlight Tesla’s ongoing refinements to the vehicle’s design and infrastructure.
Revamped Tesla Semi sighting
Tesla Semi advocate @HinrichsZane, who has been chronicling the progress of the vehicle’s Nevada factory, recently captured exclusive drone footage of the refreshed Class 8 truck at a Megacharger stall near Giga Nevada. The white unit features a full-width front light bar similar to the Model Y and the Cybercab, shorter side windows, a cleared fairing area likely for an additional camera, and diamond plate traction strips on the steps.
Overall, the revamped Semi looks ready for production and release. The sighting marks one of the first real-life views of the Class 8 all-electric truck’s updated design, with most improvements, such as potential 4680 cells and enhanced internals, being hidden from view.
1.2 MW charging speed and a new connector
The official Tesla Semi account on X also shared an official video of Tesla engineers hitting 1.2 MW sustained charging on a Megacharger, demonstrating the vehicle’s capability for extremely rapid charging. Tesla Semi program lead Dan Priestley confirmed in a later post on X that the test occurred at a dedicated site, noting that chargers at the Semi factory in Nevada are also 1.2 MW capable.
The short video featured a revamped design for the Semi’s charging port, which seems more sleek and akin to the NACS port found in Tesla’s other vehicles. It also showed the Tesla engineers cheering as the vehicle achieved 1.2 MW during its charging session. Dan Priestley explained the Semi’s updated charging plug in a post on X.
“The connector on the prior Semi was an early version (v2.4) of MCS. Not ‘proprietary’ as anyone could have used it. We couldn’t wait for final design to have >1MW capability, so we ran with what had been developed thus far. New Semi has latest MCS that is set to be standard,” the executive wrote in a post on X.
Check out the Tesla Semi’s sighting at the Nevada factory in the video below.
Tesla Supercharger network delivers record 6.7 TWh in 2025
Tesla targets production increase at Giga Berlin in 2026
