Filed under: Biodiesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz
Does the gas station pump pictured above look confusing? For some people, it is. Now, imaging if there was also J1772 connectors and a few H2 pumps, a SVO hose, and one for biodiesel and E85. Would it be complicated then? According to a new online study by Harris Interactive (done at the behest of Mercedes-Benz USA), these sorts of choices - more specifically, the new generation of alternative powertrain vehicles - are causing confusion about what kinds of cars to buy, with the result that shoppers, "are holding off on purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV)."
This isn't surprising. Sure, regular AutoblogGreen readers can talk about how the Chevrolet Volt only uses eight of the 16 kWh storage capacity in its battery pack, but mainstream America doesn't know this. Heck, Toyota has had to spend ten years telling people that you don't need to plug in the Prius hybrid - and is now faced with changing the message to, "well, you can also get a plug-in version soon." It's not an enviable job.
Here are some of the survey's results:
- 71 percent of adults said they, "are not at all or only somewhat knowledgeable about the difference between various types of alternative fuel vehicles."
- 48 percent said they, "would be interested in purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle but are not sure about what type to get (e.g., hybrid, electric, diesel)"
- 35 percent said they know which powertrain is best for different driving situations.
- 41 percent of men - but only 18 percent of women - said they are "knowledgeable or very knowledgeable" about alternative powertrains.
[Source: | Image: Orin Zebest - C.C. License 2.0]
Continue reading Mercedes' study finds consumers are "confused" about alternative fuels
Mercedes' study finds consumers are "confused" about alternative fuels originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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