EV Consideration Growing But Charging Still An Issue, Study ShowsForbesEd Garsten, Senior ContributorThu, September 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleFountain Valley, CA - High gas prices and improved range are boosting consumer EV consideration, a study shows, but charging still an issue. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)MediaNews Group via Getty ImagesDespite somnolent sales of battery electric vehicles, a new survey indicates an increasing number of consumers may be warming up to the idea of purchasing an EV.At the same time, the CEO of Xeal Energy, which specializes in providing EV charging stations at multifamily housing developments and commercial properties contends the recharging infrastructure remains a key obstacle towards greater adoption of the all-electric vehicles.EVs accounted for 6.2% of the U.S. new vehicle sales market in August, down from 10.1% a year ago according to a report from CBT News. Meanwhile the share of the market for hybrids increased 3.1% to 15.7%.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor the full year, U.S. marketshare for EVs stood at 5.37% down nearly 3% from 2025 full year, according to the latest data from The Alliance for Automotive Innovation.However, more than half the U.S. drivers, 53%, surveyed said they were more open to purchasing an EV than they were a year ago, according to the HERE-SBD EV Index 2026, released this week.HERE Technologies, is a mapping and location data company, and SBD Automotive, is a global automotive research firm.The study included responses from more than 4,000 drivers in the U.S., Europe, India and Australia.While 57% of U.S. drivers surveyed cited high gas prices for their increased EV consideration improved charging infrastructure and the ability to charge at home were also mentioned improved EV range and charging speed (35%), charging infrastructure (31%) and charging availability at home or work (29%) as key factors.AdvertisementAdvertisementIndeed those flagging charging availability and driving range as among the top three barriers to EV adoption, the number of driving mentioning them declined by 14% and 15% respectively from last year's report."While EV uptake may be slowing, the findings suggest continued investment in charging infrastructure is starting to translate into greater consumer confidence," said Robert Fisher, senior consulting manager at SBD Automotive Consumer sentiment," in a statement. "Consumer sentiment often leads purchasing behavior, making confidence an important indicator to watch as the market continues to evolve."Though improving, charging availability has long been a barrier to those living in multifamily units such as apartments, where residents don't have the luxury of home chargers in a garage—the so-called last mile.EV charging stations operated by Xeal Energy. The company specializes in charging stations at multifamily housing developments, commercial and recreational properties."That's where we still, as an industry, have to do better, cover more spots, have reliable charging, and reliability means did the car charge?" asserted Nikhil Bharadwaj, co-founder and CEO at Xeal Energy in an interview. "It's not the percentage of uptime when people show up to the charger. Did it actually deliver electrons on that attempt? That is what we all need to be measuring, and it is it is something where, as an industry, have to go from these early adopters to these the early majority, the crossing the chasm, as we call it, right? We are in that chasm right now."AdvertisementAdvertisementWhere the price of a new EV may still be out of reach for some buyers, Bharadwaj notes used EVs are an attractive value causing sales to spike. That spike, he says, has led to an increase in business at Xeal charging stations at multifamily complexes."Zeal processed twice the amount of driver transactions in the last 12 months than we did cumulatively four years before that," he explained. "We saw even the last six months charging hours go from 50 hours a month to 770 hours a month in our multifamily properties, and it's gas prices and the used car EVs are now getting priced at around $30,000."Providing reliable EV charging at an apartment complex boosts business for its owners as well, causing some renters who own EVs to extend their stays by as much as six months and attracting new residents with EVs pleased with the ability to charge their vehicles overnight, noted Bharadwaj.There's evidence of tangible progress in making it easier to find a reliable EV charging station.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe U.S. added 31,600 public charge points since last year's since last year's HERE-SBD EV Index, representing 13% of the country's total charge points.That accounted for an increase in total charge power by 47%, from 14.1 GW to 20.7 GW, "improving charging performance and reducing charging times for drivers," according to the report.The improvements did not go unnoticed by those responding to the survey with an increase in positive perceptions of public charging availability from 28% to 47%, while 60% of U.S. respondents said they are confident in the country's ability to develop the infrastructure needed for greater EV adoption.This article was originally published on Forbes.com