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About 80% of all Tesla drivers are men, and this seems to carry over to other types of electric vehicles as well.
In fact, we found the Nissan LEAF is more popular with women than other electric vehicles. When it debuted for the 2011 model year, the Nissan LEAF was one of the first purely electric cars on the market, and since then has remained popular mainly due to its affordability.
Here’s a closer look at the data and the electric vehicle market.
Electric car drivers
A 2021 Nissan LEAF | Nissan
We looked at more than 5,000 EV quotes from a sample of over 1 million insurance quotes from June 2020 to June 2021.
We found that of the three popular EV models (Tesla, Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt), Tesla is the overwhelming favorite for both women and men.
According to the data, while there is a greater share of men than women for all three EV groups, the Nissan LEAF is 10% more popular with women than with men.
When it comes to the Nissan Leaf, 36% are owned by females. In comparison, 20% of Chevrolet owners are female, and 17% of Tesla owners are female.
Marketing for electric cars
According to the Center For Climate and Energy Solutions, electric vehicle advertising is targeted toward the male demographic.
The nonprofit organization points out that during the Super Bowl last year, there were prominent ads for electric vehicles, but the zero-emissions benefits were barely promoted.
Instead, the electric vehicles’ horsepower and acceleration are often pointed out instead.
And carmakers should do a better job of targeting women, as 62 percent of new car purchases are made by women, who also influence more than 85 percent of all car purchases, according to Cars.com.
Women and electric car market
The Center For Climate Change and Energy Solutions also points out that as more women choose to remain single or marry later, they have more disposable income.
In addition, women are buying compact SUVs, crossovers or sedans, and flashy electric vehicles, despite the fact they often seem targeted to men.
When it comes to buying a car, men tend to look at performance and style, while women reportedly tend to focus on safety, reliability, efficiency, and comfort. According to ABC News, women have practical concerns when buying a car, such as: How much cargo space is available? How comfortable are the seats? Is the vehicle reliable over the long haul?
More electric vehicles to come
With this in mind, it might be a good idea for carmakers to realize that women should be a focus of the car industry. The electric car market will only continue to grow as more and more companies pledge to change over to green vehicles and emissions standards increase.
There’s also good news for Nissan Leaf drivers—the affordable car is about to become even more economical.
The 2022 version is the cheapest new electric vehicle on the market, with a base price of just over $28,000, according to Car and Driver. The trims are also between $4,245 and $6,545 cheaper than they were last year.
