Consumers are getting wise to the real-life fuel-saving potential of hybrid vehicles and it's making them less attractive, says a newly-released study by J.D. Power and Associates. Their 2007 Alternative Powertrain Study indicates that the number of new-vehicle shoppers considering a hybrid has declined.
In its second year, the Alternative Powertrain Study examines reasons why consumers consider (or avoid) alternative powertrain vehicles. Included in the study are data from the Automotive Environmental Index, which combines U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) information with J.D. Power and Associates' voice of the customer data related to stated fuel economy.
The votes have been tallied, and the results indicate that half of new-vehicle shoppers are considering a hybrid. Seems like plenty, though it's down 7 points from 57 percent in last year's study.
"In the 2006 study, we found consumers often overestimated the fuel efficiency of hybrid-electric vehicles, and the decrease in consideration of hybrids in 2007 may be a result of their more-realistic understanding of the actual fuel economy capabilities," said Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power and Associates. "While hybrid sales are steadily increasing, they continue to face competition for market share against an increasing offering of other alternative powertrains and fuels options."
Interestingly, the number of consumers willing to consider a diesel vehicle has nearly doubled since last year, currently residing at 23%, according to the study.
photo:Honda
In its second year, the Alternative Powertrain Study examines reasons why consumers consider (or avoid) alternative powertrain vehicles. Included in the study are data from the Automotive Environmental Index, which combines U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) information with J.D. Power and Associates' voice of the customer data related to stated fuel economy.
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| 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid |
The votes have been tallied, and the results indicate that half of new-vehicle shoppers are considering a hybrid. Seems like plenty, though it's down 7 points from 57 percent in last year's study.
"In the 2006 study, we found consumers often overestimated the fuel efficiency of hybrid-electric vehicles, and the decrease in consideration of hybrids in 2007 may be a result of their more-realistic understanding of the actual fuel economy capabilities," said Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power and Associates. "While hybrid sales are steadily increasing, they continue to face competition for market share against an increasing offering of other alternative powertrains and fuels options."
Interestingly, the number of consumers willing to consider a diesel vehicle has nearly doubled since last year, currently residing at 23%, according to the study.
photo:Honda