By Dave Bean, Content Editor, FMW
March 5, 2025
The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study shows something last year’s study did not: an uptick in owner satisfaction with both mass market and premium battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Further bolstering optimism in the future of EVs is the coinciding improvement of market share of electric vehicles in 2024, the likely result of more makes and models available. Optimism is somewhat tempered, however, by the fact that the new White House administration is doing all it can to discourage ownership of alternative fuel vehicles.
This discouragement arrives in the form of curtailing availability of EV tax incentives, as well as defunding infrastructure for public charging depots. As these nascent edicts become more noticeable, it’s very likely that many who might have opted to purchase an EV will back off future consideration somewhat, causing a flattening of sales, according to J.D. Power prognosticators.
“The elimination of EV tax incentives and public charging funding has the potential to affect two critical barriers to EV adoption: public charging availability and vehicle prices,” said Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power. “This temporary slowdown in market share growth for EVs creates a unique challenge for the industry as manufacturers forge ahead with new vehicle introductions. The EV market will be faced with expanded product offerings and flat share, creating increased competition.”
But despite the challenges ahead, current EV owners shared in detail those elements of ownership that created their overwhelming satisfaction. Here’s the topline:
- Education from Dealer: the more education and training a dealer offered an EV purchaser, the higher the level of satisfaction.
- Premium EVs Lag Behind Mass Market EVs: The more expensive the electric vehicle, the more problems reported by owners. One might surmise that Premium Market buyers have a greater expectation of satisfaction than those purchasing a less expensive, less luxurious make or model.
- Plug-in Hybrids Still a Player: for those who are reticent about going full battery electric, a Premium hybrid seems to be a satisfactory option, outranking mainstream BEVs in the J.D. Power study.
- Public Charger Availability: those who don’t own a Tesla and other premium EVs are happier this year than last with mass market EV charger infrastructure.
- BEV Owners Likely to Buy Another Next Time Around: Greater than 9 of 10 electric vehicle owners expressed a tendency to repurchase same when in the market. Very few will even consider a traditional gas powered vehicle.
Per usual, once the data is analyzed, there are J.D. Power awards to bestow. Here are the Top 3 finishers and the segment rankings and scores* in each of the two primary vehicle segments for the 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study:
Premium BEV
- BMW iX (which was also the highest ranking of all BEVs regardless of segment)
- BMW i4
- Rivian R1S
(Chart: J.D. Power)
Mass Market BEV
- Hyundai IONIQ 6
- Kia EV6
- Chevrolet Equinox EV
(Chart: J.D. Power)
(*For score score calculation and methodology click on one of the links below.)
For more information about the J.D. Power 20205 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/automotive/electric-vehicle-experience-evx-ownership-study.
See J.D. Power’s online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2025013.
