Hybrid Cars

[rgstott]

Hi Guys

I was just wondering if a few of you might be able to answer the following questions really quickly

My Girlfriend is currently doing some work on her degree and needs some answers to this survey

She would really appreciate it if a few of you could just spend 5 minutes giving your thoughts

the question she has to answer over all is

Are hybrid or electric cars a realistic consumer alternative to traditional diesel/petrol cars?

and the questions are

1. How old are you?
a. 17-25
b. 26-34
c. 35-43
d. 44-over
2. What is your Gender?
a. Male
b. Female
3. Do you own a car?
a. Yes
b. No
4. How many cars are in your household?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. More than 3
5. Are you aware of alternative to standard diesel or petrol engines?
a. Yes
b. No
6. Have you ever considered purchasing a Hybrid of electric car?
a. Yes
b. No
7. How much do you usually spend when replacing your car?
a. 0-2500
b. 2500-7500
c. 7500-12500
d. 12500-17500
e. 17500+
8. What is usually your main incentive for changing cars?
a. Age of current car
b. cost of maintenance of current car
c. efficiency of current car
d. lifestyle change
e. other
9. Would you be more inclined to purchase an electric vehicle if there were a substantial infrastructure to support it?
a. Yes
b. No
10. Are you aware electric cars can last up to 200 miles without having to recharge?
a. Yes
b. No
11. Are you aware that if you use a renewable energy to charge the battery that the cars run 100% emission free?
a. Yes
b. No
12. If answered yes to questions 10, 11 or knowing these facts would you be more inclined to buy a smart/electric car?
a. Yes
b. No
13. What is the main reason that you would not buy a hybrid or electric car over a traditional diesel or petrol engine car?
14. What would be an incentive for you to buy an electric or hybrid car?

Thank you very much

RGS

[Wild Swordfish]

a
a
a
d
a
b
d
e
b
a
a
b

Too quiet, you ca hardly hear the engine when you give it a good go. And 200 mile is too shorter range; it we need to be in the thousands before consideration.

Nothing really. Economy isn't my biggest worry, it's the way the car feels and looks imo.

[Codswallop]

1 - A
2 - A
3 - A
4 - C
5 - A
6 - A
7 - C
8 - E (I change cars for changes sake - it's part of being a petrol head )
9 - A
10 - A
11 - A
12 - A
13 - Main reason I would not buy an electric car is because I feel they are a massive con designed to appease the gullible. The environmetnal impact of manufacturing a new car makes up over a quarter of the lifetime costs of a car, and for electric cars which require more rare earth metals, this is likely to be higher still. Therefore, if you genuinely care about the environment, it's better to continue using older vehicles than buying new ones. It also just so happens to be the case, that eco cars tend to be dull, and not the type of thing that gets me personally excited. I'll stick with the V8 thanks.
14 - Better infrastructure, and the knowledge that I could keep the petrol vehicles for fun too.

[fatboy b]

d
a
a
b
a
b
e
a
b
a
a but that's a load of tosh in reality as any "renewable" energy source has to be built using non renewable energy methods.
b
I've no need for an electric car. The only benefit imo is to move emissions from a busy city to a powerstation, and that benefit is decreasing owing to the efficiency gains with internal combustion engines. Electric cars could also be a substantial hazard in an RTA, or breakdown. Rescue workers and breakdown workers have lost lives dealing with hybrids through electrocution.

When the world runs out of oil, so not in my lifetime.

Edited by fatboy b on Wednesday 10th April 21:58

[DCLXIV]

1) a
2) a
3) a
4) a
5) a
6) a
7) b
8) e - as and when I can afford to trade up to something nicer
9) a
10) a
11) b - not over a full life-cycle they aren't
12) b
13) Appalling energy density of batteries meaning you have to carry around lots of excess weight if you want to get any kind of long distance at a decent speed
14) EV: zero local emissions in large cities. Hybrid: recovery of energy that would otherwise be wasted, data tends to show that full life-cycle CO2 emissions of a hybrid are lower than a standard IC car.

[PanzerCommander]

1. How old are you?
b. 26-34

2. What is your Gender?
a. Male

3. Do you own a car?
a. Yes

4. How many cars are in your household?
c. 3

5. Are you aware of alternative to standard diesel or petrol engines?
a. Yes

6. Have you ever considered purchasing a Hybrid of electric car?
b. No

7. How much do you usually spend when replacing your car?
d. 12500-17500 - but don't replace that often.

8. What is usually your main incentive for changing cars?
e. other - the current car is a keeper something drastic would have to happen to force a change

9. Would you be more inclined to purchase an electric vehicle if there were a substantial infrastructure to support it?
a. Yes

10. Are you aware electric cars can last up to 200 miles without having to recharge?
a. Yes

11. Are you aware that if you use a renewable energy to charge the battery that the cars run 100% emission free?
a. Yes - but is it really when you take into account the maufacturing.

12. If answered yes to questions 10, 11 or knowing these facts would you be more inclined to buy a smart/electric car?
b. No

13. What is the main reason that you would not buy a hybrid or electric car over a traditional diesel or petrol engine car?

The numbness of the car, my current car has something special about it. When I turn the key it rolls on its axis, I can feel the engine vibrations through the car, its V8 sounds superb.

14. What would be an incentive for you to buy an electric or hybrid car?
It would have to offer everything that my current car does and possibly more.

[saaby93]

Jeez 44 and over is a low threshold - what typ of audience is she looking for to put everyone over 44 in the same group?

[Northernchimp]

1. How old are you?
b. 26-34

2. What is your Gender?
a. Male

3. Do you own a car?
a. Yes

4. How many cars are in your household?
c. 3

5. Are you aware of alternative to standard diesel or petrol engines?
a. Yes

6. Have you ever considered purchasing a Hybrid of electric car?
b. No

7. How much do you usually spend when replacing your car?
d. 12500-17500

8. What is usually your main incentive for changing cars?
e. other (boredom)

9. Would you be more inclined to purchase an electric vehicle if there were a substantial infrastructure to support it?
b. No

10. Are you aware electric cars can last up to 200 miles without having to recharge?
a. Yes - I'm aware of the claims, bks though.

11. Are you aware that if you use a renewable energy to charge the battery that the cars run 100% emission free?
a. Yes

12. If answered yes to questions 10, 11 or knowing these facts would you be more inclined to buy a smart/electric car?
b. No

13. What is the main reason that you would not buy a hybrid or electric car over a traditional diesel or petrol engine car?

I like power, noise, manual gearboxes, etc. I like exhaust fumes. I don't, in all honesty, give a toss about the environment.

14. What would be an incentive for you to buy an electric or hybrid car?

If they cost £5 and came with free insurance, servicing and tyres.