Consumer Reports study says buyers still wary about electric-cars

Posted: Oct 25, 2010
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2011 Nissan LEAF - 2011 Chevrolet Volt

The preliminary findings of a new survey by Consumer Reports indicate that while half of consumers regard being green as important to them, there are not many willing to embrace vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. Primary concerns are cost, range, functionality, and safety.

Though being green was important to 51% of respondents, it ranked just 11th out of 12 factors considered when buying car, such as quality, price, and value.

“Electric vehicles have captured the interest of some consumers,” said Consumer Reports in a posting Thursday on its Web site. “However, many may be wary of embracing a new technology if it demands lifestyle changes.”

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Inside Line


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  • Sunpwrd

    Wow, this is yet another completely bogus “survey” about consumer’s opinions of plug-in cars based on significant ignorance of what this technology means.

    There is no context provided to the participants. They aren’t told of the oil pollution costs to society, both economic and emotional. They aren’t told to consider the need to fight wars for this fuel. No mention of the economic havoc the petroleum industry brings to the world.

    Without this information, the only answers that can be given are based on pure selfishness. Surely some of the respondents would take into consideration the ill effects oil has on society and change their vote. In other words, they would apply a cost to those things equal to maybe $1.00 per gallon. Everybody has their own number, the higher it is, the better person you are.

    Just please don’t conduct these lame excuses for a survey and think it means anything.

    Hey Consumer Reports, you want to know what people think of electric cars? Try asking the several hundred of us who have been using these cars for the better part of the last decade. We might actually have some opinions that are based on first hand knowledge.

    We can be found at http://www.pluginamerica.org.

    Paul Scott

  • Jaytee

    The oil industry doesn’t cause havoc. People fighting the oil industry do. The oil industry is a group of companies meeting a market need fed by consumers who purchase petroleum products. Including you.

  • Sunpwrd

    Sorry, Jaytee, but I don’t purchase petroleum. My car runs on kWh generated by sunlight falling on my roof. This is one of the big reasons plug-in cars will take over. It’s easy to make your own electricity. And it’s cost effective.

    I’ve driven 86,000 miles in 8 years, and also powered my house on the energy generated by my 3 kW PV system. The PV cost $15K out of pocket, but could be bought today in CA for about $12K. My electric bill is about $100 per year.

    When you consider how much a typical house spends on electricity in a year, about $2,000, add to that what a person driving a typical car for 86,000 miles would spend on gas, maybe $2,000 – $4,000, I spend around $1,200.

    Keep in mind that as more and more people start driving EVs, we’ll see more of our money staying local instead of going out of the country and out of our communities. Think of the jobs that will generate as people spend those millions for local goods and services.

  • JTee

    Sorry but you do purchase petroleum. Most consumer products contain some plastic. Depending on where you live some portion of your power may be petroleum based. Public transportation, components in your electric vehicle. Your house or apartment contains and was constructed using – petroleum. It is ubiquitous.

  • JTee

    Sorry but you do purchase petroleum. Most consumer products contain some plastic. Depending on where you live some portion of your power may be petroleum based. Public transportation, components in your electric vehicle. Your house or apartment contains and was constructed using – petroleum. It is ubiquitous.

  • JTee

    Sorry but you do purchase petroleum. Most consumer products contain some plastic. Depending on where you live some portion of your power may be petroleum based. Public transportation, components in your electric vehicle. Your house or apartment contains and was constructed using – petroleum. It is ubiquitous.

  • JTee

    I’m not saying electric cars aren’t a good idea or that you’re not a better person than me because you limit your road trips to less than 70 miles.

    I’m simply indicating that you shouldn’t blame oil companies for your dependence on oil. I don’t blame Verizon and AT&T for my reliance on my cell phone. I don’t blame Starbucks for my addiction to coffee. If there is blame, I blame myself.

    Not everybody lives in an area that is sunny every day. In some parts of the country electricity is more affordable than in California and therefore the payback on solar is too long. Solar is too expensive unless you’re in the Southwest.

  • Matt

    I’m not surprised to read about this because because Hybrids/Electrics tie ya to the dealer which have outrageous labor an parts cost. Plus the resale value on this beast take a big hit when ya near that 100k mile marker on your odometer.

  • Sunpwrd

    I was talking of the big use, transportation. Of course oil is used for other things, but we’re importing foreign oil because of transportation, not plastics.

  • Sunpwrd

    I was talking of the big use, transportation. Of course oil is used for other things, but we’re importing foreign oil because of transportation, not plastics.

  • Sunpwrd

    I blame oil companies because they use their excessive profits to buy political favor and to influence elections. We’re seeing the latter in full force right now in CA with Props 23 and 26. Out of state oil companies are pouring millions into our election right now to try and overturn AB32, the nations most progressive environmental law.

    The reason we’re dependent on oil is because the oil companies have exerted their significant influence to prevent any alternatives from being brought to market. Example “A” of this is highlighted in the documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”. The oil companies worked very hard to try and kill this technology. They succeeded in delaying it for about a decade, but the EV’s resurgence ultimately could not be stopped.

  • Jaytee

    The EV1 was an engineering marvel but it would never have worked in colder climates. It also would have been prohibitivly expensive.

    All companies protect their turf. Examples include the ethanol lobby.. the electric utilities .. and renewable energy as evidenced by the government support for expensive wind and solar projects. Incidentally.. your solar installation isn’t even capable of powering a typical sized central air system. So we’re supposed to spend $12000 on panels?

  • Jaytee

    The EV1 was an engineering marvel but it would never have worked in colder climates. It also would have been prohibitivly expensive.

    All companies protect their turf. Examples include the ethanol lobby.. the electric utilities .. and renewable energy as evidenced by the government support for expensive wind and solar projects. Incidentally.. your solar installation isn’t even capable of powering a typical sized central air system. So we’re supposed to spend $12000 on panels?

  • JTee

    ok. But believe it or not – petroleum is simply the best alternative for transportation. We’ve been making lithium ion batteries for like 20 years now and they still have about 1/2 the energy density of gasoline.

    I’m a big proponent of electric vehicles – but they will remain a niche product until there is a substantial technology breakthrough allowing you to go several hundred miles with a battery pack of a reasonable size. Even as costs come down for battery production – they have to be too large and heavy. I’m looking forward to the next battery type.

  • JTee

    ok. But believe it or not – petroleum is simply the best alternative for transportation. We’ve been making lithium ion batteries for like 20 years now and they still have about 1/2 the energy density of gasoline.

    I’m a big proponent of electric vehicles – but they will remain a niche product until there is a substantial technology breakthrough allowing you to go several hundred miles with a battery pack of a reasonable size. Even as costs come down for battery production – they have to be too large and heavy. I’m looking forward to the next battery type.

  • JTee

    meant to say “1/8″ the energy density of gasoline.

  • JTee

    meant to say “1/8″ the energy density of gasoline.