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Thursday, 22 July 2010 7:29 P.M.
New
Survey Finds Majority of Americans Are Confused About Alternative
Fuel Options
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PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Electric
vehicles were available for test drives at the 2010 Business
of Plugging In conference in Detroit. |
MONTVALE,
N.J. -- For 50 years, Americans focused on things like
horsepower, color, and design when deciding which car to buy. Today,
that decision includes even more mystifying choices, including how
the vehicle is powered - Is it a hybrid? Is it electric? Does it
take regular gasoline or diesel fuel?
A new survey
from Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) conducted online in July 2010 by
Harris Interactive suggests that Americans are having a hard time
figuring out what to make of all these choices, and as a result,
many are holding off on purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV).
The survey found that
nearly one in two adults (48%) would be interested in purchasing
an alternative fuel vehicle but are not sure about what
type to get (e.g., hybrid, electric, diesel) and only about one
in three (35%) say they know which types of AFVs are best for various
driving
situations (e.g., city, suburban, highway). In fact, more adults
claim to be knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about the causes
of the global
financial crisis, the difference between good and bad cholesterol
and the amount of oil that has spilled into the Gulf of Mexico,
than they are about the difference between various types of alternative
fuel vehicles.
"The end game is
zero-emissions driving that doesn't simply transfer the problem.
And, while that is still in the future, each alternative fuel
vehicle we introduce is a step in that direction, providing key
findings and helping acclimate consumers to new technology,"
said Sascha Simon, head of advanced product planning at Mercedes-Benz
USA. "Our goal at Mercedes-Benz is to provide a portfolio of
options for our customers so they can choose the vehicle that best
suits their lifestyle and to further the understanding and, ultimately,
the adoption rate for these new technologies."
Detailed information
on each option is available on the "Thinking Green" section
of Mercedes-Benz's website at http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/innovation/thinking_green/overview.
The site includes information on Mercedes-Benz's BlueTEC clean diesel
vehicles (E350 BlueTEC, ML350 BlueTEC, GL450 BlueTEC and R350 BlueTEC),
hybrid vehicles (S400 HYBRID, ML450 HYBRID and hydrogen electric
vehicles (B-Class F-Cell), flexible fuel options as well as tips
for driving green.
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Among
the findings from the MBUSA/Harris Interactive survey:
- A
vast majority of U.S. adults (71%) say they are not at all
or only somewhat knowledgeable about the difference between
various types of alternative fuel vehicles.
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One in four adults (25%) is not at all knowledgeable about
the difference between various types of alternative fuel
vehicles.
-
More adults claim to be knowledgeable or very knowledgeable
about the causes of the global financial crisis (34%), the
difference between good and bad cholesterol (45%), and the
amount of oil that has spilled into the Gulf of Mexico (46%)
than about the difference among various types of alternative
fuel vehicles (29%).
-
Men are more likely than women to say they are knowledgeable
or very knowledgeable (41% vs. 18%, respectively).
-
More than half of adults (58%) have never considered purchasing
analternative fuel vehicle, while nearly two in five (39%)
have. Only three percent already own one.
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About the Survey
This survey was conducted
online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf
of Mercedes-Benz USA from July 9-13, 2010 among
2,242 adults ages 18 and older. Results were weighted as needed
to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population. This online
survey
is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of
theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About Harris
Interactive
Harris Interactive is
one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging
research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant
insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll
and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers
expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology,
public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial
services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package
goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through
our
North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent
market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research
solutions that help us - and our clients - stay ahead of what's
next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.
About Mercedes-Benz
USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA),
headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution,
marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach
products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse
line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the
sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
USA
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Charging
stations for electric vehicles at the 2010 Business of Plugging
In conference in Detroit.
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