A new BMW Group North America survey found that 73% of respondents said 75 miles or less would cover a typical day of driving, yet 42% said they would not buy an electric vehicle without at least 300 miles of range. The BMW EV range survey gap, as Motor1 described it, highlights a persistent disconnect between how Americans actually drive and what they say they need before going electric.
BMW surveyed 1,005 US adults from Sept. 11 to 13, according to Motor1. The results point to range anxiety as a major hurdle for EV adoption even though most daily trips, such as school runs, grocery runs and commutes, fall well short of the range buyers say they want.
The Numbers From The BMW EV Range Survey
- 73% of respondents said 75 miles or less would cover a typical day of driving
- 42% wanted at least 300 miles of range before buying an EV
- 18% would not consider an EV with less than 400 miles of range
- 72% said minimum driving range would be a deciding factor when shopping for an EV
- 51% cited purchase cost as the main barrier to going electric
- 27% cited lower ownership and operating costs as a reason to go electric
- 55% said they would consider a certified pre-owned or used EV if the savings were significant
- 53% said the ability to add roughly 150 miles of range in a 10-minute charging stop would make them more likely to consider an EV
- 70% of Gen Z respondents said fast charging would make them more likely to consider an EV
- 55% called 30 minutes or less an acceptable fast-charging stop, up from 48% in a 2024 Mini USA survey on EV attitudes
- 56% viewed EV buyers as early adopters, down from 62% in BMW’s 2025 survey
- 68% overall said they would consider buying an EV
Alexander Schleicher, head of e-mobility for BMW Group North America, discussed the findings as part of the company’s ongoing look at EV buyer attitudes, according to Motor1.
What The Range Gap Means
The arithmetic in the survey shows a wide split between stated daily use and desired range. Nearly three out of four respondents said 75 miles or less would handle their typical day, but fewer than half of respondents would accept anything under 300 miles when actually shopping for an EV. Motor1 summarized the discrepancy bluntly, noting “the gap with what buyers say they want is massive.”
That gap did not stop a majority of respondents from saying they would consider an EV at all. Sixty-eight percent said they would consider buying one, even as cost emerged as the top obstacle: 51% named purchase price as the main barrier, more than double the 27% who pointed to lower ownership costs as a reason to buy electric.
Fast charging appears to carry real weight in softening range demands. More than half of respondents, 53%, said the ability to add about 150 miles in a 10-minute stop would make them more likely to consider an EV. That interest was even stronger among Gen Z respondents, 70% of whom said fast charging would sway their consideration.
Context On Range And Charging Speed
BMW’s own upcoming iX4 illustrates the kind of range and charging numbers the survey suggests could ease buyer hesitation. The iX4 carries an EPA-estimated range of up to 428 miles, according to The Verge. It can also add 184 miles of range in just 10 minutes of fast charging, according to Car and Driver, a figure that exceeds the roughly 150-mile benchmark respondents said would boost their interest in an EV.
Acceptance of fast charging also appears to be rising. The 55% who called a 30-minute-or-less charging stop acceptable marks an increase from 48% in Mini USA’s 2024 survey on EV attitudes, a signal that comfort with charging times may be shifting even as range expectations remain high.
At the same time, the share of respondents who view EV buyers as early adopters fell to 56% from 62% in BMW’s 2025 survey, suggesting perceptions of EV ownership may be normalizing even as the range gap persists.
The survey reflects the views of 1,005 US adults polled by BMW Group North America over a three-day window in September and should not be read as representative of all EV shoppers nationwide. BMW has not indicated whether the findings will shape future vehicle design or marketing decisions. The automaker’s next relevant data point will likely come as it rolls out range and charging specs for new electric models, including the iX4, detailed by The Verge and Car and Driver.
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