NC consumer views and market potential of electric vehicles
Electric vehicles offer the potential to reduce air pollution and lower petroleum use, if people will buy them. A random sample of 260 North Carolina households is asked about present vehicle ownership and use, opinions about electric vehicles, and likelihood of future purchase. The survey`s major findings: (1) Over 58% of NC households own 2 or more vehicles; (2) about 73% of first-vehicles are cars and 16% trucks; vehicle specialization increases with the number of vehicles owned; (3) most vehicles were initially purchased for less than $10,000; (4) the average household creates 223 miles of travel per week, the average vehicle 120 miles; (5) fuel efficiency, low operating cost and low pollution are the items of most importance to vehicle purchasers; (6) About 21% of respondents consider EVs very practical and 44% somewhat practical; (7) at $20,000 about 6.3% of NC households said they would be very likely to buy an EV, and 24.8% somewhat likely to buy, interest increases at $15,000 or less, particularly from households with limited driving needs and small families; (8) at $20,000 the potential NC sales is about 168,500 vehicles, or 3.8% of the NC personal car fleet. Sales are highly dependent on initial price and on EVs overcoming key negative features, including periodic replacement of batteries, low speed and driving range, and loss of initial value on trade.
- OSTI ID:
- 418697
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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