eVIUS FAQs
General Questions about the Electric Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (eVIUS) (e.g., purpose, how are data used)
- What is the Electric Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (eVIUS) and what is its purpose?
- How will eVIUS data be used?
- When will eVIUS data be released?
- Who conducts eVIUS?
- How is eVIUS different from the Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS)?
Questions about Who to Contact
Questions about the Survey (e.g., who is surveyed, types of vehicles included)
- How was I selected to participate in eVIUS?
- What types of vehicles are included in eVIUS?
- What types of vehicles are not included in eVIUS?
- If I have more than one electric vehicle (EV), should my survey responses include all my EVs?
Questions about Survey Logistics (e.g., how to access survey, due date, how long to complete)
- How do I access my survey?
- Do I have to complete the survey in one sitting?
- What if I lose my password?
- Why do I have more than one password?
- What should I do if I do not have online access to complete the survey?
- Can I complete the survey on a smartphone or tablet?
- How long will it take me to complete eVIUS?
- When will eVIUS data collection begin?
- When will eVIUS data collection end?
- Am I required to respond to eVIUS?
Questions About My Vehicle and Vehicle Eligibility
- What if I only drove the vehicle for part of the one year period that the survey is asking about (i.e., July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)?
- What should I do if the vehicle listed is not my vehicle?
- What should I do if I am not the primary operator of the vehicle (e.g., another household member or employee is the primary operator)?
- What should I do if the vehicle is leased to another individual or business?
Questions about Privacy and Confidentiality
- How do you know what vehicle I own/lease?
- How did you get my personal information?
- How is my personally identifiable information used?
- How is my personally identifiable information kept confidential?
General Questions about the Electric Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (eVIUS) (e.g., purpose, how are data used)
What is the Electric Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (eVIUS) and what is its purpose?
The Electric Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (eVIUS) is the first national survey on electric vehicles (EVs) and is being administered to gain an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and uses of EVs on our nation’s roadways, as well as EV charging patterns and preferences. The eVIUS will be administered in 2025.
The survey will provide data on electric vehicle (EV) usage as well as charging patterns and preferences. These data can be used by public agencies at all levels, private companies, and other stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions about EV manufacturing and infrastructure.
When will eVIUS data be released?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics anticipates releasing the eVIUS data to the public by early 2026.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) administers eVIUS with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). BTS provides context to decision makers and the public for understanding statistics on transportation. BTS promotes innovative methods of data collection, analysis, visualization, and dissemination to improve operational efficiency, examine emerging topics, and create relevant and timely information products that foster the understanding of transportation and its transformational role in society. DOE manages the United States' nuclear infrastructure, administers the country's energy policy, and also funds scientific research in the field. See: Department of Energy.
How is eVIUS different from the Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS)?
The eVIUS is a voluntary survey that targets light-duty and passenger EVs and focuses on EV-specific usage and charging patterns. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) also sponsors the Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS), which was last administered by the Census Bureau on behalf of the BTS in 2021. VIUS is a mandatory survey used to collect data on the physical and operational characteristics of the Class 1-8 trucks. The purpose of VIUS is to better understand how trucks are utilized in the United States for goods movement. For more information about VIUS, see Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) | Bureau of Transportation Statistics (bts.gov)
Questions about Who to Contact
Who should I contact if I have questions about the survey or technical difficulties accessing or completing the survey?
Please email eVIUS-help@dot.gov or call 1-844-738-9627.
Questions about the Survey (e.g., who is surveyed, types of vehicles included)
How was I selected to participate in eVIUS?
Your vehicle was randomly selected from a national list of registered electric vehicles (EVs). The list is based on state vehicle registrations obtained through a third-party source.
What types of vehicles are included in eVIUS?
The eVIUS includes personal and business-owned or leased battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) up to 10,000 pounds (i.e., passenger and light-duty vehicles).
What types of vehicles are not included in eVIUS?
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (10,000 pounds or more), as well as conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, non-plug-in hybrid vehicles, and other clean energy vehicles (e.g., compressed natural gas and hydrogen) are not included in eVIUS.
If I have more than one electric vehicle (EV), should my survey responses include all my EVs?
If you have more than one EV, you may be asked to complete more than one survey, depending on how many of your EVs were randomly selected for inclusion in the survey. Your invitation letter will include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make, model, and year of the EV(s) that are being surveyed. If more than one EV is listed in your invitation letter, a separate password will be provided for each EV, as BTS requests that you complete a separate survey for each of the listed EVs. When you enter the password for one of your EVs, you can access the survey instrument for that EV (the survey will show the make, model, and year for the surveyed EV).
Questions about Survey Logistics (e.g., how to access survey, due date, how long to complete)
Owners/Drivers of selected EVs will receive a survey invitation that includes the URL for the survey and their one-time use password. A QR code will also be provided if respondents prefer to access the survey via a mobile device.
Do I have to complete the survey in one sitting?
While we encourage you to complete the survey in one sitting, if you need to leave the survey before completing it, click “Save and Complete Later.” By doing so, you will reactivate your password for one more use, whether you are entering the survey via the survey link or using the QR code, both of which were provided in your survey invitation letter. If you need to re-enter the survey a third time, however, please email eVIUS-help@dot.gov or call 1-844-738-9627.
A: If you cannot find your password (which is found in your survey invitation letter and in any of the reminders you may have received), please email eVIUS-help@dot.gov or call 1-844-738-9627.
Why do I have more than one password?
A: If you own or lease more than one electric vehicle (EV), more than one of your vehicles may have been randomly selected to participate in the survey. Each selected vehicle will have its own password, and BTS asks that you complete a separate survey for each selected EV. Your invitation letter will include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make, model, and year of the EVs that are being surveyed, along with the password associated with each EV. When you enter the password for one of your EVs, you can access the survey instrument for that EV (the survey will show the make, model, and year for the surveyed EV).
What should I do if I do not have online access to complete the survey?
If you do not have online access to complete the survey, please call 1-844-738-9627.
Can I complete the survey on a smartphone or tablet?
Yes, eVIUS is optimized for mobile devices.
How long will it take me to complete eVIUS?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics anticipates it will take 15 minutes, on average, to complete the survey.
When will eVIUS data collection begin?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics anticipates that the eVIUS data collection will begin in early 2025.
When will eVIUS data collection end?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics anticipates that the eVIUS data collection will be completed by late spring 2025.
Am I required to respond to eVIUS?
No, eVIUS is a voluntary survey, and by law you are not required to respond. However, your response is important to ensure an accurate and comprehensive picture of the characteristics and uses of electric vehicles (EVs) on our nation’s roadways, as well as EV charging patterns and preferences. This is your opportunity to share how you use your EV and help shape the future of EV infrastructure.
Questions About My Vehicle and Vehicle Eligibility
What if I only drove the vehicle for part of the one year period that the survey is asking about (i.e., January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024)?
We still want to hear from you! We are interested in collecting data for vehicles that were driven for any part of 2024, even if driven only briefly.
What should I do if the vehicle listed is not my vehicle?
If the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) listed on your survey invitation letter is NOT your vehicle (either because it is no longer in your possession or was never in your possession), please log into the survey instrument and respond to the first few questions, which are about vehicle ownership. Please rely on the VIN to verify that the listed vehicle is yours; do not rely only on make, model, and year.
What should I do if I am not the primary driver of the vehicle (e.g., another household member or employee is the primary driver)?
If you can report on the usage of the vehicle, or if you can gather the requested information from the primary driver of the vehicle (e.g., if it’s a household member or an employee), please do so. You can also ask the primary driver to complete the survey.
If you are unable to report on the usage of the electric vehicle (EV), because you do not have access to the primary driver or you have a leasing arrangement with another individual or business, please email eVIUS-help@dot.gov or call 1-844-738-9627.
If you can provide alternative contact information for the individual or business that operates the vehicle, we will forward our survey request directly to them. If you are unable to provide this information, you will continue to receive follow-up attempts asking you to complete the questionnaire to the best of your ability.
What should I do if the vehicle is leased to another individual or business?
If you have a leasing arrangement with another individual or business, please email eVIUS-help@dot.gov or call 1-844-738-9627.
If you can provide alternative contact information for the individual or business to whom the vehicle is leased, we will forward our survey request directly to them. If you are unable to provide this information, you will continue to receive follow-up attempts asking you to complete the questionnaire to the best of your ability.
Questions about Privacy and Confidentiality
How do you know what vehicle I own/lease?
This information was obtained from a third-party source based on state vehicle registrations.
How did you get my personal information?
Your name and address were included in the state vehicle registration data. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics adhered to all federal and state regulations regarding the use of vehicle registration data.
How is my personally identifiable information used?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics will use your personally identifiable information (PII), such as your name and address, only for the purpose of contacting you regarding eVIUS. A summary report of aggregate findings will be published on the BTS webpage at www.bts.gov, and no individual information will be included.
How is my personally identifiable information kept confidential?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics, its employees and agents, will use the information you provide for statistical purposes only and will hold your personally identifiable information in confidence to the full extent permitted by law. No personally identifiable information will be included in any data products that result from the eVIUS survey. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (Title 5 of Public Law 107-347) and the Foundations for Evidenced-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Title 3 of Public Law 115 – 435) along with other applicable Federal laws, your responses will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your informed consent. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2016, Federal information systems are protected from malicious activities through cybersecurity screening of transmitted data.