According to a national survey released by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Consumers Union, four out of 10 households could use an electric vehicle (EV) with little or no change to their driving habits and vehicle needs,

While less than 1 percent of the country are driving electric vehicles (EVs) today, the survey found that 42 percent of respondents with cars, equivalent to 45 million households when applied nationally, meet the basic criteria for using plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt. More than half of those households are also able to use a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), such as the Nissan LEAF.

“Consumers who might be shopping for a new vehicle this holiday season may be surprised to learn that an electric vehicle could be a good fit for their household,” said Josh Goldman, policy analyst for the UCS Clean Vehicles Program. “Drivers may have preconceptions about whether electric vehicles can meet their driving needs and habits, and this survey shows that for many, they can.”