PHEV
Nearly half of U.S. consumers are interested in buying a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, according to a survey released Tuesday by Boulder’s Pike Research. According to Pike’s survey of 1,041 U.S. consumers, 48 percent said they would be “extremely” or “very” interested in buying a plug-in hybrid, or PHEV, with a 40-mile range on a single charge.
Plug-in hybrids match the driving requirements of most consumers we surveyed,” Pike Research managing director Clint Wheelock said in a statement. “Eighty-two percent of respondents drive 40 miles or less per day, with an average daily driving distance of 27 miles.”
Plug-in hybrids have a greater battery capacity than factory-built hybrid cars that don’t plug in, and generally offer greater gas mileage. Plug-in hybrids are not yet widely sold in U.S. dealerships, but are expected to be offered starting as early as next year.
Some companies — including Boulder’s HybridsPlus Inc. — convert standard hybrid cars into PHEVs, but the process can be expensive.
Pike Research said it expects that some 600,000 PHEVs will be on the road in the U.S. by 2015.
The Pike survey also found that 65 percent of respondents would pay a higher price for a PHEV than a standard car. Those willing to pay a premium said they would pay an average of 12 percent more.
Pike Research specializes in “clean tech” market data and consulting.
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