Most Say Affordability and Reliability Matter More Than Emissions

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• A majority (73%) of voters own a gas-powered vehicle.
  • Few voters (10%) now own electric vehicles.
  • Similarly, only 13% own a hybrid vehicle.
  • Eleven percent (11%) don’t own a vehicle.
• Thirty-eight percent (38%) say that it’s at least Somewhat Likely that they’ll purchase an electric vehicle in the next 5 years.
  • About half (52%) say they will likely not purchase an electric vehicle in the next 5 years.
  • These numbers are similar to results in April 2025 and 2024.
• With gas-powered vehicles being more popular and less expensive, 53% of voters say keeping the price of cars low enough for families to afford them is more important than reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
  • This opinion has trended down in the last few years. In April 2022, 60% of the voters said keeping car prices low was more important, 57% said the same in April 2024, and only 50% last March 2025.
  • Still, just 34% say reducing greenhouse gas emissions is more important than the price of cars.
  • More Republicans (66%) than Democrats (42%) say keeping the price of cars low is more important than reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • A plurality (43%) of Democrats say reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change is more important.
  • A majority (62%) of voters who talk politics nearly daily say reducing greenhouse gas emissions is more important than keeping the price of cars low enough for families to afford them.
• In a similar vein, about 6 in 10 (59%) of voters say reducing the cost and improving the reliability of electricity and gas for American families is more important than reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • This is down 7 points from April 2025 but the same as March 2025.
  • Just 29% say reducing greenhouse gas emissions is still more important.
  • Most Republicans (69%) and half (50%) of Democrats say reducing the cost of electricity and gas and improving its reliability.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, April 20-21, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.