MSRC: Electric Vehicle Owners Say They Prefer Their Cars Over Gasoline Counterparts
1 June 2000
MSRC: Electric Vehicle Owners Say They Prefer Their Cars Over Gasoline Counterparts
DIAMOND BAR, Calif.--June 1, 2000--A recent survey of electric vehicle (EV) owners shows that 80% of those surveyed are more satisfied with their EV than with their current gasoline-powered car.Overall, EV owners said they were extremely satisfied with their EVs and 70% said they use the car as their primary vehicle.
Local surveys were distributed in March by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) as well as five state air districts to better understand how EVs are being utilized in both the retail and fleet marketplace. The survey was coordinated by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Electric Transportation Coalition (CETC).
The MSRC and six air districts (covering 18 counties) currently provide a $5,000 incentive toward the lease and/or purchase of an electric vehicle to help stimulate the introduction of EVs into the state. The findings from the survey will serve as a foundation for a statewide Electric Vehicle Education Program, funded by the Department of Energy through the CEC and administered by the Clean Car Education Program (CCEP), a non-profit organization.
Government officials hope the survey results will provide a statewide overview of the EV market, as well as identify car features important to EV owners. A total of 294 EV owners responded to the survey. There are a total of 2,300 electric vehicles registered in California.
"We found that electric vehicle owners drove their EVs more than they thought they would prior to leasing or buying one and were overall very satisfied with their performance," said Will Kleindienst, chairman of the MSRC. "Three-quarters of those surveyed said they drove their electric vehicles 76% to 100% of the time."
Typically, EV owners are using their cars for a variety of purposes, according to the survey. About 68% use them for work and school commuting; 64% for shopping/running errands during the week; 55% for work-related purposes; and 41% for weekend or recreational purposes. Most owners (91%) drive their EVs on the freeway, weekly if not daily, and 14% said they drive their EV more than 50 miles a day.
More than half of the EV drivers in the Southland said they use public electric charging stations at least once a week, and 67% reported they drive their EV more often because public charging is available.
In California, for 2003 and beyond, auto manufacturers are required to produce and sell 10% of their new passenger car and light-duty truck fleets as zero polluting -- or as many as 150,000 vehicles annually. There are a variety of electric vehicles on the road today including the GM EV1, Chevrolet S10 pickup, Honda EV Plus, Solectria Force, Toyota RAV 4, Ford Ranger pickup, Nissan Altra and the Chrysler Epic minivan.
However, many of the auto manufacturers producing EVs have stopped or slowed production in anticipation of the state Air Resources Board review of California's zero emission mandate later this year.
Two years ago the MSRC conducted a similar survey of recipients of a $5,000 buydown incentive for zero emission vehicles to help determine the placement of EV charging stations in the Southland. Since then, the MSRC has co-funded more than 250 electric charging stations in the South Coast Basin and instituted a directional signage program to identify their locations.
Given the availability of the charging stations, 56% of the EV drivers in the Southland said they use public electric charging stations at least once a week, and 67% reported they drive their EV more often because public charging is available.
The two areas in which drivers said they were only "partially satisfied" were the driving range of the vehicles and the heating systems. Even with the few shortcomings, 77% of the respondents would lease or purchase another electric vehicle.
According to Kleindienst, the survey findings represent a positive development in the advancement of EVs into the marketplace. "We are pleased to find that electric vehicle owners are very satisfied with their cars and believe their positive experiences will help spur the continued growth of electric vehicles in the state."
About the MSRC
The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee is a committee responsible for funding transportation projects that reduce air pollution within Southern California. It was formed in 1990 when Assembly Bill AB 2766 was signed into law authorizing a $4 motor vehicle registration fee.
Thirty percent of the $4 fee, or approximately $12 million annually, is used for programs administered by the MSRC. Membership is made up of representatives from the transportation agencies of Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties, as well as the Southern California Association of Governments, Southern California Rideshare, California Air Resource Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
