It's long been obvious that sales did not meet the rosy projections issued before the cars went on sale. Sales of plug - in electric vehicles ( EVs ) in the US over their first five years in the market are ahead of the equivalent sales figures for hybrids , according to the second annual EV sector survey conducted by the Consumer Federation of America . The Osborn effect - where sales of an electronic product fall in favor of an improved product arriving - is noted regarding the tapering of EV sales in 2015 , with consumers switching to EVs with 200-mile plus ranges coming in 2017 . The survey also showed young adults were the group with the fastest - rising consumer interest in EVs .
Sales of plug - in electric vehicles ( EVs ) in the US over their first five years in the market are ahead of the equivalent sales figures for hybrids , according to the second annual EV sector survey conducted by the Consumer Federation of America . The Osborn effect - where sales of an electronic product fall in favor of an improved product arriving - is noted regarding the tapering of EV sales in 2015 , with consumers switching to EVs with 200-mile plus ranges coming in 2017 . The survey also showed young adults were the group with the fastest - rising consumer interest in EVs .