Enthusiasm among drivers is lacking about autonomous vehicles and even
electric cars, J.D. Power’s latest Mobility Confidence Index has revealed.
The results of the survey would be surprising—and bordering on
shocking--for the proponents of EVs
and all the headline space these vehicles are getting, with analyst forecasts
for their adoption overwhelmingly optimistic. Unlike them, consumers are not
as optimistic about the future of plug-in cars and self-driving vehicles.
According to the survey, electric cars scored a mobility confidence index
reading of 55 on a scale of 100. Self-driving cars scored even lower, at 36
points, which would hardly be a surprise since this technology has yet to
mature, and developing trust in it would be a long process.
“Out of the box, these scores are not encouraging,” said J.D. Power’s
executive director of Driver Interaction & Human Machine Interface
Research. “As automakers head down the developmental road to self-driving
vehicles and greater electrification, it’s important to know if consumers are
on the same road—and headed in the same direction. That doesn’t seem to be
the case right now. Manufacturers need to learn where consumers are in terms
of comprehending and accepting new mobility technologies—and what needs to be
done.”
Indeed, the results are worrying, especially for EVs which have been
hailed as the drivers of a transport revolution. According to the survey,
there are still a lot of people who wouldn’t buy an EV: just 39 percent said
they would buy one. Even more people don’t believe EVs are as reliable as ICE
cars: 51 percent. One thing the majority of respondents in the survey were
positive about in EVs
was their beneficial effect on the environment.
Among the top problems noted by respondents were the length of time it
takes an EV to charge and the length of its range. According to the majority,
the former needs to be shortened and the latter extended before they would
consider buying an electric vehicle.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
