Ernst Young Survey Finds Roughly 60% of Chinese Consumers Would Consider Purchasing a Plug-in Vehicle

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Ernst Young Survey Finds Roughly 60% of Chinese Consumers Would Consider Purchasing a Plug-in Vehicle
aprill 24, 2010 · Lisa kommentaar

According to a new survey by Ernst & Young’s Global Automotive Center, roughly 60% of respondents in China said they would consider purchasing a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle. This percentage is nearly five times that of US, Germany, UK and Japan survey respondents.

The global survey included China, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. In China, Ernst & Young canvassed the views of 1,000 vehicle owners and those that plan to purchase within three years from across China.

These global surveys comprise part of Ernst & Young’s advanced vehicle powertrain initiative, which focuses on the business opportunities and issues companies face in the development of alternative transportation solutions, and is designed to gauge consumer interest and purchase decision factors regarding plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

Other key survey findings include:

* Saving money on fuel was the lead influencer in China at 86%. Environmental impact followed with 82%; safety at 69%; and government incentives at 60%. Among all seven countries surveyed, fuel savings is the leading factor to favorably influence the purchase decision. However, environmental impacts and safety were cited by more China respondents as influencing the decision process than any other country.
* Battery driving range was the top concern about plug-ins (73%), followed by charging stations (69%); reliability and serviceability (64%); and safety (64%).
* 82% of respondents consider a range per charge of less than 200 miles to be acceptable.
* 65% of survey participants said they would subsidize local charging stations—nearly twice the portion of other countries surveyed. When asked which specific locations would offer convenient re-charging access, 76% indicated conventional roadside recharging locations, 46% indicated residential and apartment communities and 34% indicated large public parking places near places of business.
* 79% of China respondents believe that electric-powered vehicles will outnumber gasoline powered vehicles in 20 years or less.

Commenting on the findings, Mike Hanley, Ernst & Young Global Automotive Leader, said that the large portion of consumers in China indicating a strong interest in purchasing a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle—especially for a powertrain technology which is not yet widely available—should be affirming news for automotive manufacturers in China and internationally that are planning to release electric vehicles into the market late in 2010 and early 2011.

As the survey suggests, electric vehicles have an opportunity to make a significant entrance into the China public’s consciousness over the next few years. Even if only a small portion of the 65% of survey respondents who said they would consider a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle when introduced are serious, there would still be more than enough demand to sell out the 2010 and 2011 production runs of the major and new manufacturers, while buying crucial time to build out infrastructure and increase public awareness.

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