The potential for lower ownership costs and fading concerns about limitations such as range anxiety are causing more Americans to consider going electric for their next vehicle purchase, according to AAA.

In a new AAA survey, 20 percent of respondents said they are likely to choose an electric vehicle for their  next purchase. This share was up from 15 percent in a similar survey issued in 2017.

The survey polled 1,003 American adults about their potential interest in and concerns about electric vehicles. AAA suggests that the findings translate to 50 million drivers who might consider a vehicle with an electric powertrain.

Hybrid vehicles were also popular, with 31 percent of respondents saying they would be likely to buy this type of vehicle when they were next in the market. This share was unchanged from the 2017 survey.

"Today, electric vehicles have mainstream appeal," said Greg Brannon, AAA's director of automotive engineering. "While concern for the environment is still a major motivator, AAA found U.S. drivers are also attracted to the lower long-term costs and advanced technology features that many of these vehicles offer."

Concern for the environment was the main reason respondents said they would consider an electric vehicle, with 80 percent saying this would be a factor in their decision. Sixty-seven percent said they thought an electric vehicle would offer lower long-term costs, 54 percent said they liked the appeal of cutting edge technology, and 35 percent said they were attracted by the idea that an electric vehicle would give them access to carpool lanes.

Ninety-two percent of those who said they might buy an electric or hybrid vehicle said reliability would be an important consideration. Eighty-seven percent said they would want a vehicle with an adequate range, while 77 percent said they would consider crash ratings to be important.

Other factors valued by potential buyers of electric or hybrid vehicles included cost (71 percent), acceleration and handling (69 percent), and advanced safety features (60 percent). Respondents were less concerned with factors such as style, color, and design, although about one-third said these would be important considerations.

AAA said one factor in the increasing appeal of electric vehicles was a reduction in range anxiety, or the worry that a single charge won't be enough to get a driver to his or her destination. Sixty-three percent of those who said they were unsure or unwilling to purchase an electric vehicle said they did not think there were enough places to recharge the vehicle, down from 69 percent in the 2017 survey. Fifty-eight percent said they were worried about the vehicle running out of charge during a drive; this concern was down from 68 percent of those unwilling to buy an electric vehicle in last year's survey.

AAA says the number of charging stations available to electric vehicle drivers has grown to more than 16,000 in the United States. While this has helped reduce range anxiety, the organization says some drivers may also have unrealistic expectations of charging time. Sixty-eight percent said they wanted to be able to recharge their vehicle in no more than 30 minutes while out driving. Electric vehicle batteries can typically be charged with a 120-volt outlet, but may need to stay plugged in overnight or for the duration of a workday to recharge a seriously depleted battery.

"Today's drivers are accustomed to a quick fill up at the corner gas station, but electric vehicle charging can sometimes take several hours," said Brannon. "With a little planning, electric vehicle owners can avoid a roadside inconvenience and, as technology improves, charging times will too."

Forty-nine percent of those who were unsure or unwilling to buy an electric vehicle said they were deterred by the high costs of repairing or replacing a battery. This was down from 55 percent in 2017.

AAA noted how a previous study found that electric vehicle costs are less than expected. In its Your Driving Costs report for 2017, the organization estimated that electric vehicles cost $8,439 per year to drive – slightly less than the average of all vehicles. That report found that fuel and maintenance costs were lower than average for electric vehicles, although the vehicles also depreciated faster.

AAA also named its Top Green Vehicle awards, basing its picks on testing done at the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center. The Tesla Model X 75D was named best overall green vehicle, along with best SUV/minivan and best vehicle over $50,000.

Tesla also won best large car for its Model S 75. The Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier won for best subcompact car as well as best vehicle priced at $30,000 to $50,000.

Other winners in the AAA Top Green Vehicle awards included the Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier (subcompact car), Nissan Leaf SL (compact car), BMW 530e i-Performance (midsize car), Ford F-150 4X4 XLT Sport (pickup), Kia Niro LX (best under $30,000).