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Green cars disappoint consumersGreen cars disappoint consumers
By Fu Chenghao |
October 24, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ELECTRIC vehicles have fallen short of public expectations so far, according to a report by consultants Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.
At a forum in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, the firm said global consumers expect electric vehicles to be able to go farther, require less charging time and sell for lower prices than what's on offer from automakers at present.
"There are more similarities in expectations about electric vehicles than one might think," said Joe Vitale Jr., leader of Deloitte's Global Automotive Sector.
He cited the results of a survey of 13,000 consumers in 17 countries across the Americas, Asia and Europe.
"The findings can be valuable for automakers as they shape their plans to build electric vehicles," Vitale said. "The real challenge, however, is meeting global consumer expectations, which are significantly different from the reality of what those vehicles can deliver today."
More than 85 percent of the people surveyed said range of travel, convenience of charging and cost to charge were "extremely important" or "very important" in any decision to buy or lease an electric vehicle, according to the report.
Current technology allows most electric vehicles to cover an average of only 160 kilometers between charges, but consumers surveyed want a range double that distance, according to John Hung, automotive leader with Deloitte China.
Respondents in developing nations showed greater interest in electric vehicles than their counterparts in the developed world, the survey found.
"We are excited to see that Chinese consumers are considering themselves as the potential first movers to adopt electric vehicles and interestingly; consumers in India are also seeing themselves as likely early adopters," Hung said.
But by contrast, consumers in developed markets such as Germany, France and Japan are more reticent to be at the vanguard, he said.
At a forum in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, the firm said global consumers expect electric vehicles to be able to go farther, require less charging time and sell for lower prices than what's on offer from automakers at present.
"There are more similarities in expectations about electric vehicles than one might think," said Joe Vitale Jr., leader of Deloitte's Global Automotive Sector.
He cited the results of a survey of 13,000 consumers in 17 countries across the Americas, Asia and Europe.
"The findings can be valuable for automakers as they shape their plans to build electric vehicles," Vitale said. "The real challenge, however, is meeting global consumer expectations, which are significantly different from the reality of what those vehicles can deliver today."
More than 85 percent of the people surveyed said range of travel, convenience of charging and cost to charge were "extremely important" or "very important" in any decision to buy or lease an electric vehicle, according to the report.
Current technology allows most electric vehicles to cover an average of only 160 kilometers between charges, but consumers surveyed want a range double that distance, according to John Hung, automotive leader with Deloitte China.
Respondents in developing nations showed greater interest in electric vehicles than their counterparts in the developed world, the survey found.
"We are excited to see that Chinese consumers are considering themselves as the potential first movers to adopt electric vehicles and interestingly; consumers in India are also seeing themselves as likely early adopters," Hung said.
But by contrast, consumers in developed markets such as Germany, France and Japan are more reticent to be at the vanguard, he said.
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