A new Enterprise Mobility survey found Gen Z and Millennials to be the top two generations driving on U.S. and UK roads.

Forty-seven percent of Gen Z drivers ages 21-26 and 41% of Millennials who responded to Enterprise’s first “On the Move” survey estimated they are driving even more than five years ago, compared to 33% of Gen X drivers and 16% of Baby Boomers.

The survey was fielded online from Jan. 22-Feb. 5, 2024.

Seventy-three percent of drivers surveyed said they expect privately owned vehicles will still be their No. 1 transportation choice 10 years from now.

“As we look toward the future, it’s important for us to stay informed about consumer perspectives on the current state of mobility,” said Will Withington, Enterprise Mobility global operations executive vice president, in a news release. “This survey represents a snapshot of how the public views a range of mobility trends, which helps us stay better informed as we work to develop and provide mobility solutions for our customers both today and in the future.”

Enterprise found that 41% of Americans are excited about the new technology behind autonomous vehicles. Of those, 50% said AVs could have the potential to “make travel easier for people who can’t or won’t drive,” and 40% said AVs could “give people time to do other things in a car besides driving.”

However, 72% said they prefer human control of the car they drive or ride in.

“Although there is some initial skepticism around AVs, we see that many consumers change their minds about the technology once they get a chance to experience it,” said Withington. “As a global mobility leader, we are actively researching and testing new technologies, listening to preferences and concerns, and working to better understand how all of this might impact the future of mobility.”

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more mainstream, and 4 in 10 Americans said they would consider driving a fully electric vehicle in the future. The primary motivating factors for doing so are fuel cost savings (44%) and a positive environmental impact (34%), according to Enterprise.

Enterprise noted questions remain about EV viability due to cost, inadequate charging infrastructure, and environmental impacts. Its survey data shows that nearly 7 in 10, or 68% of Americans, believe the U.S. doesn’t have the proper infrastructure to support widespread EV adoption. Related battery range anxiety is the top deterrent from driving an EV, according to Enterprise.

“EV infrastructure looks vastly different across the U.S., and the reality is that current charging infrastructure in most regions does not meet the needs of drivers with regard to availability, efficiency, reliability, and convenience,” said Withington. “We recognize the tremendous potential of EVs, and we’re actively working with our teams and industry partners to put our customers at the center of everything we do. Our aim is to ensure our operations and the surrounding infrastructure can provide a positive experience and better support equitable access to the technology.”

J.D. Power reported earlier this month that public EV charging infrastructure continues to be a reason for the “unexpectedly slow” adoption of EVs in the U.S. but there are signs of improvement, including survey respondents’ overall satisfaction increasing for a second consecutive quarter.

“The number of public charging stations across the country continues to grow but hasn’t matched the rate of EV sales,” J.D. Power said. “During the past several years, the rise in the number of EVs per public charging station has contributed to a declining level of satisfaction with such chargers. This year, however, customer satisfaction with the two principal methods of public charging offers a hopeful sign.”

Satisfaction with direct current (DC) fast chargers has increased to 664 on a 1,000-point scale which is a 10-point increase from the same period in 2023. Satisfaction with Level 2 charging has declined to 614 — a 3-point decrease from a year ago.

J.D. Power surmises that access to the Tesla Supercharger network by non-Tesla owners is one contributor to the increase in satisfaction with DC fast chargers.

Comparatively, McKinsey & Co. reported in June that 46% percent of current U.S. EV owners and 29% globally said they would likely switch back to an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said an inadequate charging infrastructure was one reason they wanted to switch. Other top answers included total costs of ownership and too much impact on long-distance trips.

Enterprise’s most recent survey found 45% of U.S. respondents said their commute would improve if it cost less money and another 28% say it would improve if it caused less stress.

“Interestingly, however, while a wide range of alternative transportation solutions exists to solve these commuting challenges — including car sharing and vanpooling — nearly a quarter of respondents (22%) say they have not heard of some or all of these services, which can be implemented by both businesses and consumers to help ease these pain points,” Enterprise said.

Withington added, “Whether people prefer to ‘share’ a car for occasional trips to the office, or they want to maximize their travel time by vanpooling with co-workers, there is a wide range of mobility solutions available to get them where they need to go.”

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