After interviewing 1,898 new vehicle buyers and intenders, Synovate found, not without surprise, that most of the American consumers are clueless when it comes to the technologies that make up the aforementioned models.
Only one third of those questioned seem to have an idea about the fact that hybrid means a combination between an internal combustion engine and an electric motor and that the hybrids can run on electric power alone.
At the opposite end, although most of those questioned know that a plug-in hybrid needs to be plugged in to recharge, very few know that PHEVs also use an internal combustion engine. The fact that the government has made efforts to come up with fuel consumption and emission figures for pure electric vehicles like the Leaf have also confused the American consumer.
"We have to wonder if consumers will become disillusioned when they understand the actual requirements of electric vehicles. Will the person who goes to their Chevy dealer to buy a Volt or their Nissan dealer to buy a Leaf still buy the vehicle once they discover the need for plugs and 220-volt outlets? And, if they become discouraged with the electric option, will they stay and buy a different Chevy or Nissan vehicle? Or simply leave in confusion?" said Stephen Popiel, Synovate Motoresearch vice president.
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