AAA Washington Prepares for an Electric Future with Growing Consumer Demand for Electric Vehicles

Interested in getting road trip ready without having to stop at the gas station? According to a recent survey conducted by AAA – one of the most trusted travel and automotive brands in the U.S. – consumer interest in EVs is increasing, with 25 percent of respondents likely to buy an EV as their next car.  

“Consumers across Washington are beginning the transition from their all-gas vehicles for the more environmentally friendly options,” said Laura Ray, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Environmental, Social, and Governance with AAA Washington. “With continuous education on EV ownership and the addition of charging stations at select AAA retail locations, the survey findings substantiate more consumers are considering the switch for a cleaner future.” 

Other key findings from AAA’s 2022 EV sentiment survey: 

• 25% of consumers would likely buy an EV as their next car – up from 19% in 2019  
• 77% of respondents identified the cost of gas as their main motivator 
• Respondents from Western states, including Washington, are most likely to purchase an EV (33%), compared with consumers in the Northeast (29%), Midwest (20%), and the South (21%)  
• Interest among Millennials is highest (30%), followed by GenX (22%) and Boomers (12%)  
• Cost of purchase (60%), charging accessibility (60%), and range anxiety (58%) remain top-of-mind issues with consumers concerned 

To help address the need for reliable high-speed charging stations, AAA Washington has installed DC fast charging stations at several of its stores: 

• AAA Vancouver Cruise & Travel Store (4301 East 4th Plain Blvd.) hosts four ChargePoint DC fast charging stations. 
• AAA Lynwood Cruise & Travel Store (3000 196th Street S.W.) hosts one EVgo DC fast charging station. 
• AAA Tacoma Cruise & Travel Store (1801 South Union Ave.) will host four ChargePoint DC fast charging stations with availability expected by early fall 2022. 

Each of these charging stations offers combined CHAdeMo and CCS ports to recharge an electric vehicle in as little as 20 minutes, depending upon the car. In partnership with Carbon Solutions Group, AAA members receive a discount for charging at CSG ChargePoint locations at its AAA Vancouver and Tacoma stores. 

AAA Washington has also put into place additional resources to support its members: 

• EV Newsletter. AAA Washington members are welcome to subscribe to the club’s free EV newsletter for articles, news, and advice. 
• Battery Health. Through a partnership with Washington-based Recurrent, AAA Washington members can access personalized reports about the battery health of their electric vehicles. 
• 2022 Car Guide. Consumers can access the newly released AAA Car Guide including information about EVs evaluated across 13 categories. Fun fact: this year’s “top four” cars were all-electric models, including the #1 ranking 2021 Ford Mustang Match-E Premium AWD. 

Another AAA consumer survey found that drivers are already making major changes to their habits and routines, with 13 percent buying more fuel-efficient vehicles and 2 percent switching to an electric vehicle since gas prices increased in March 2022. 

“While the road to electric is an exciting one,” said Ray, “it can also be confusing. Through resources like AAA’s car guide and EV newsletter, and partnerships that provide unique services to our members, we will continue to support consumers with tools and information they can trust to make informed decisions.” 

The EV consumer sentiment survey was conducted by AAA National on February 18-20, 2022, using a probability-based panel designed to represent the U.S. household population overall. The panel provides sample coverage of approximately 97% of the U.S. household population. Most surveys were completed online; consumers without Internet access were surveyed over the phone. A total of 1,051 interviews were completed among U.S. adults, 18 years of age or older. The margin of error for the study overall is +/- 4% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups have larger error margins. 

About AAA Washington:

AAA Washington was established in 1904 by 10 prominent Seattleites determined to champion the betterment of motoring conditions and laws, the preservation of Washington state’s natural beauty and the promotion of Washington as an unrivaled tourist destination. Nearly 120 years later, the club continues to pursue these on behalf of its 1.2 million members.

Members of AAA Washington receive exclusive benefits, including roadside assistance, discounts on hotels and rental cars, comprehensive insurance options, and personalized trip planning. AAA Washington was named a Best Place to Work by Puget Sound Business Journal and voted the best Travel/Tourism Company by 425 Business readers in 2023, and AAA was named one of the most trusted travel and automotive brands in the U.S. Additional information is available through the company’s Washington and northern Idaho stores and at www.AAA.com. 

About AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research is used to develop educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users. Visit www.AAAFoundation.org.

Media Contact

Fearey o/b/o AAA Washington 
AAA@feareygroup.com 
206-838-9209

Twitter: @AAA_Washington
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Interested in planning your next road trip with AAA Washington? Call your travel agent directly or your nearest AAA store to get pro tips, TripTik maps, and more. Find more Pacific Northwest scenic drives and road trips.