THE DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The effects of information on the perceptions and preferences of potential users ("adopters") of electric vehicles (EV's) for private urban transportation are examined. Objective brand and product class information designed to alter the beliefs of potential adopters about product attributes is found to achieve the desired goals; beliefs continue to change with added information. Any information about the objective performance of the EV compared to conventional vehicles tends to weaken preferences for the EV. Evidence indicates that, among individuals well informed about the EV's performance and operational characteristics, significant differences exist between adopters and nonadopters in terms of attitudes about various sectors within the EV and transportation industries. A methodology is presented for estimating the ultimate demand potential for complex, unfamiliar, innovative products, such as the EV, without reference to actual sales data or unique samples of potential adopters. The estimation procedures are shown to yield good predictions of the stated choices of individuals who have received EV information. Variables likely to influence the extent of market penetration include the economic and cost disadvantages shared by EV's over conventional vehicles, and the amount of information individuals have to evaluate the alternatives.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conference held in Dearborn, Michigan, 15-17 September 1980. Also published in HS-030 396 (IEEE-80CH1601-4; SAE-SP-90), "Convergence 80. IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Annual Conference (30th), International Conference on Transportation Electronics Proceedings," Utica, Michigan, 1980.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

  Operations Center, 445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08855-1331

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Wilton, P C
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 8 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Consumer behavior; Consumer preferences; Demand; Electric vehicles; Information management; Information, data, and knowledge; Marketing; Methodology
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Energy; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381408
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: IEEE-80CH1601-4, HS-030 432, SAE-SP-90
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 29 1984 12:00AM