Date: July 24, 2025 PDF: 11 MB
The consumers’ perspective evolves based on their general mindset around the overall economy and their own personal preferences, and this mindset can impact which vehicle technologies or energy options will be most successful. It is essential to understand what they think and how they behave to ensure that the solutions being offered to them fit their needs and preferences.
This white paper presents findings from a recent consumer survey to help decision makers better understand the driver. As with all surveys, the results reflect how respondents answered questions at a given moment in time.
In collaboration with NACS and TEI, the research firm Bold Decision (bold-decision.com) conducted online interviews from Monday May 19 – Wednesday May 21, 2025, among American adults, age 18+, nationwide. The results from the survey are presented largely in a chart format to enable comparison of results across key demographic groups. The timing of the surveys was designed to assess consumer sentiment and insights early in the transition to summer-blend fuels often before consumers observed related price increases linked to the transition.
Some key findings include:
- Consumers remain concerned about fuel prices
- 72% still said price is most the important factor when deciding where to buy gas.
- 69% would drive 5 minutes out of their way to save 5 cents per gallon
- Most are pessimistic about buying/leasing a vehicle
- 50% think now is a bad time to buy/lease
- 64% think prices will be higher next year
- Only 39% are likely to purchase or lease a new vehicle in the next two years
- Consumers are increasingly positive about EVs
- 44% have a positive attitude towards EVs
- 31% are more positive than last year
Frequently commissions or participates in consumer surveys, to provide insight into what consumers are thinking during a given period of time. This white paper presents findings from a 2025 consumer survey supported by the Institute. These results are presented as an additional tool to better understand the driver. As with all surveys, the results reflect how respondents answered questions at a given moment in time. The timing of the annual surveys is deliberate; they are designed to assess consumer sentiment and insights early in the transition to summer-blend fuels often before consumers have observed related price increases linked to the transition.
Methodology
On behalf of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and TEI, Bold Decision (bold-decision.com) conducted online interviews from Monday May 19 – Wednesday May 21, 2025, among N=1,203 American adults (age 18+, nationwide). The overall margin of error at the 95% confidence interval is +/- 2.83% for interviews among the N=1,203 US adults. Some questions were split-sampled to reduce respondent fatigue, and these findings may total more or less than 100% due to rounding. A list of the questions asked of respondents is included in Appendix B.
Demographic groups included in the analysis were identified by the respondent and include:
- Gender
- Age (18 – 34, 35 – 49, 50 – 64, and 65 year or older)
- Geographic Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
- Community Type (Urban, Suburban, Rural)
- Education Level (High school or less, Some college, College or more)
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