HELP in Getting Plug-ins to Market!

You may want go into much greater detail than that, especially if you've got 45 pages to work with. That definition leaves much to be desired.

RANGE is a major purchase decision making factor. Cost between a PHEV-10 and a PHEV-60 is dramatically different.

SPEED is another factor. At what point the engine starts up will definitely influence appeal of the PHEV feature. Not as much of a benefit is provided for mostly cruising on the highway.

RECHARGE choice is a plus. Having the option of using a 220-volt connection when available, since it can be much faster, would be handy. Otherwise, you use the 110-volt.

HEAT is something no one seems to want to address. It's a big deal for those of us in the north. Fully electric heat can be less efficient than just running the engine.

ENGINE contribution, whether it connects to the wheels or only serves as a generator is a deal breaker. That behavioral difference is quite significant.

 

Like John said, the issue is a bit more complicated than the survey allows for. Most of my answers, in fact, lie outside of the provided multiple choice options.


1. Do you plan to purchase a car anytime within the next (pick one):
- I currently don't have a time frame for this. When a reliable PHEV is available with a 30+ mile electric only range, i'll be upgrading to a new car.

2. Are you considering buying
- PHEV, of course!

3. What is your planned budget for your next vehicle purchase? (pick one):
- Don't have a planned budget yet, probably in the 30kish range, give or take a bit.

4. What type of vehicle are you looking for?
- a PHEV... the type (sedan, SUV, etc) matters less to me than mileage and the cost of getting from point A to point B (especially on my commute each day)

5. What is the most attractive aspect of a plug-in hybrid? (pick one)
- all of the above, plus the cost of getting from point A to point B (electricity is cheaper than gas)

6. Currently, the price of a plug-in hybrid is about ten thousand dollars more than a traditional, gasoline powered vehicle. Do you think that paying more for a hybrid now will be beneficial to you sometime in the future?
- Actually, this is the price for many plug in conversions. there's a current post on here from Cheep! talking about a DIY plug in conversion thats much cheaper. Additionally, corporations like Toyota can make a Hybrid with bigger batteries without increasing the cost by that much. The major barrier right now is the cost of the batteries, mainly because they're being purchased and produced in smaller quantities. Once they increase quantities to supply someone like Toyota with PHEV capabilities for, say, 100k+ cars a year, the price will start to drop... a million cars+ a year and who knows if there will even be a price difference between a PHEV and a regular car...

7. What factor do you perceive to be the most unfavorable characteristic of a plug-in hybrid?
- Having to plug it in at night - i wish it could do it by itself . Make no mistake, many of the options you provided are based on previous generations of EV's (like those Darell has). A current PHEV will be able to charge from a wall outlet, making "finding a charging station" obsolete. Oil changes aren't all that bad, when you consider the interval for them is going up as the ICE is used less and the electric motor more. Additionally, cars like the Prius get such great emissions ratings that in many states they are given exemption from smog checks. As for tune ups... there's the standard 21 point inspection, but thats about it.

8. Do you know anyone who owns a regular hybrid?
- yes, me and almost everyone on this board!

9. Do you know anyone who owns a plug-in hybrid?
- No, but Darell owns an EV, and Cheep! just helped with a PHEV modification to a Prius.

10. If you saw someone driving a plug-in hybrid, your first thought would be (pick one):
- I want one! :lol:

11. Are you a hybrid owner?
- yes

12. Are you a plug-in hybrid owner?
- no, but i wish i was

13. How likely would you buy a plug-in hybrid as your next vehicle purchase? (please pick one)
- no question about it. it's the only reason i'd give up my Prius.

14. Indicate your gender
- male


15. What is your age?
- 24


So, in conclusion, I (and i think many people here would agree with me) would rather see someone writing a marketing paper focus on debunking hybrid and PHEV myths and rumors than focusing on how many people want a hybrid or plan to purchase one. One of the biggest barriers to adoption currently are the perceived notions many people have about hybrids. In fact, we know (from experience) that all of these are pretty much completely false.

- they aren't safe
The Prius, with optional side airbags has been rated as a safe car. It has all the safety features you find in any other car, plus a few extras, like the triple redundancy on the braking system. Additionally, when involved in an accident the batteries are completely disconnected from the car, making it safe. Additionally, the fear of exploding batteries is pretty much moot, as there is no potential for a runaway chemical reaction like we say in the Sony laptop batteries.

- you have to plug them in
Again, false - no current hybrid offers the option to plug it in. Additionally, even if you have a PHEV, it doesn't have to be plugged in - it'll run just fine without it. plugging in a car simply gives one the option to decide where your locomotive energy comes from.

- They can't go fast
The top speed for the Prius is computer limited at 108 MPH, something many car manufacturers are doing now as a safety feature. In fact, the car feels like it could go much faster than that, if it were allowed. Additionally, while the Prius isn't tuned for performance, it's acceleration is acceptable. Electric cars (BEV or battery electric vehicle) generally have better acceleration than traditional cars, because the electric engine can output the full amount of torque at low speeds as well as high speeds, where as an ICE is inefficient at low speeds.

- You have to replace the batteries and it costs a fortune
Very, very few people have had to have their Prius batteries replaced. And while it would be expensive, Toyota gives, with every Prius purchase, and 8 year/100k mile hybrid warranty (10 year in California), so if the batteries go bad they'll replace them for free. Additionally, the car only uses a small portion of the batteries charge range, preventing it from being fully charged or fully discharged, further extending its life. And as battery production increases, the cost of the batteries will decrease. by the time you hit those 8 years, i don't think cost will be much of an issue.

- They're unreliable
Actually, the Prius was just ranked as one of the most reliable cars (i believe it even beat out the Camry, but i can't find the article i was reading).

- The gas savings don't make up for the "hybrid premium"
No one ever talked about the "pay back" period for a car until hybrids came along. you pay a premium for luxury cars, sports cars, and SUV's, and yet no one mentions those. but despite that, this myth stems from an article consumer reports printed, and then later printed a correction - no one ever sees the correction. But regardless, the Prius and the Civic both do make up for their "premium" after only a few years of ownership at current gas prices.


Just a few ideas to help add some more substance to your report!

 

WHEN is something very important that is rarely ever asked. Being able to upgrade to plug-in afterward has a very real marketing draw, especially for those uncomfortable about such an expensive purchase all at once.

 

I just took the survey. I thought it was poorly designed. Questions like, "How likely are you to buy a PHEV as your next car?" seem to assume there is a PHEV available to buy! And the question about body style did not include hatchback or liftback, which, for me, is one of the great plusses of the Prius.

The survey also made no mention of pure EVs. If there was a PHEV and an EV on a Spokane car lot, I'd go there now and buy the EV. I'd keep my Prius for road trips. But if a PHEV Prius comes out before an EV does, I'll trade up.

 

* 1. Do you plan to purchase a car anytime within the next (pick one):
3-4 years?

* 2. Are you considering buying:
a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (see above for description)

* 3. What is your planned budget for your next vehicle purchase? (pick one):
$25,000- $34,999

* 4. What type of vehicle are you looking for?
sedan

* 5. What is the most attractive aspect of a plug-in hybrid? (pick one)
helps protect the environment
your friends will like it
government tax breaks and full-time use of the carpoollane
reduces dependency on foreign oil
runs very quietly

* 6. Currently, the price of a plug-in hybrid is about ten thousand dollars more than a traditional, gasoline powered vehicle. Do you think that paying more for a hybrid now will be beneficial to you sometime in the future?
Wrong! Cost of a hybrid is far less then a traditional gasoline powered vehicle. Tax credit, fuel, oil changes, resale value.

* 7. What factor do you perceive to be the most unfavorable characteristic of a plug-in hybrid?
I do not believe plug-in hybrids have any unfavorable characteristics

* 8. Do you know anyone who owns a regular hybrid?
Yes

* 9. Do you know anyone who owns a plug-in hybrid?
Yes

* 10. If you saw someone driving a plug-in hybrid, your first thought would be (pick one):
The owner obviously cares about the environment
I’m jealous! He must be saving a fortune at the pump!
It looks cool
Where can I buy one!?

* 11. Are you a hybrid owner?
Yes

* 12. Are you a plug-in hybrid owner?
No

* 13. How likely would you buy a plug-in hybrid as your next vehicle purchase? (please pick one)
very likely

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StarvingStuden @ Nov 15 2006, 06:41 PM) [snapback]349912[/snapback]</div>

Check out pluginpartners.org, excellent PHEV video and petition to get PHEVs to market.

 

i think we lost him guys... odds are he just signed up to post that, and only cares about the results of his survey... its a shame, too, cause he could probably get enough help from us for 2 papers.

 

i would pay up to $30,000 for a base model plug in with preferably 15 miles electric range and would do it today if available