BMW Group North America asked 1,005 US adults how much range they actually use—and the gap with what buyers say they want is massive.

A whopping 73 percent of respondents said 75 miles or less would cover a typical day behind the wheel. Most commutes and errands barely dent a modern EV's battery, yet when asked what they'd want before buying one, the same people said the number jumped significantly.

The split is not new to anyone who has watched range anxiety coverage push shoppers toward bigger batteries, but the size of the gap is striking here. Most American driving is short hops: school runs, grocery trips, the commute. BMW's data backs that up directly.

Seventy-two percent of respondents said minimum driving range would be a deciding factor when shopping for an EV, regardless of how little of that range they would use on a given Tuesday. Price still beat range as a worry, with 51 percent stating purchase cost as the main barrier to buying electric.

Alexander Schleicher, head of e-mobility for BMW Group North America, called it a sign the market is maturing:

'As range and charging capability continue to advance, we're seeing consumers evaluate EVs the same way they'd evaluate any other vehicle: on performance, features and value, not on outdated assumptions about range.'

Cost still cuts both ways. Just 27 percent cited lower ownership and operating costs as a reason to go electric, while 55 percent said they would consider a certified pre-owned or used EV if the savings were big enough.

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