Published on May 14, 2026
For years, electric vehicle buyers have grappled with a pressing concern known as range anxiety. This fear centered around running out of battery power before reaching a charging station. As electric cars gained traction, the focus began to shift towards overcoming these charging limitations.
Recently, however, this narrative has shifted yet again. Polestar’s CEO, Michael Lohscheller, announced that drivers are now more worried about fuel prices than their EV range. He referred to this emerging concern as “pump anxiety,” a reflection of recent spikes in gasoline costs, driven such as the Iranian oil crisis.
In a live interview with CNBC, Lohscheller revealed that consumers are increasingly hesitant to fill up their vehicles due to unpredictable prices at the pump. The onset of this new anxiety has raised questions about the stability of fuel supply and the future of combustion engines, particularly as the EV market continues to expand.
This change in consumer sentiment carries significant implications for the automotive industry. As prices at gas stations fluctuate, interest in electric vehicles may accelerate. With fuel fears replacing range concerns, EV manufacturers like Polestar could experience a boost in demand, further complicating the balance sheet in an evolving marketplace.
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