MINI survey reveals many electric car customers are stunned and confused about electric vehicles

April 13, 2019 by Steve Hanley

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The first 100% electric MINI, based on the BMW i3, will be marketed from 2020. Preparing for the marketing campaign that will accompany the launch of this car in the United States, MINI decided to ask Americans what their expectations were for an electric car. car. He commissioned a study by Engine International for this purpose.

"It's important for us, as a brand, to understand how consumers want to use their electric vehicles, and what they know or do not know about them, as we get closer to launching the MINI Cooper SE electric vehicle. in the US, "said Andrew Cutler, Corporate Communications Manager, MINI USA, according to a Associated press report. "The more intelligence we gather, the more we can inform consumers about the many benefits of electric mobility and what MINI can offer in the new MINI Cooper S E electric vehicle, set for early 2020."

The survey asked a number of questions to 1,004 Americans aged 18 and over – half men and half women. The results of the survey reveal that most people do not have a clue what to understand about the electric car. A recent CleanTechnica In her article, Carolyn Fortuna emphasized the need to educate consumers about electric cars. Boy, hello!

74% stated that they had no idea where the nearest electric vehicle charger was located. When asked how long it took to recharge an electric car, 53% responded that they did not know or thought it was about 30 minutes. Two-thirds said that electric vehicles were primarily intended for first-time users. Almost as many people said that electric cars were mainly for commuting and urban driving.

This last part should not surprise anyone. Most research shows that the average American drives less than 30 miles a day. But that does not stop many of us from thinking that as long as we have money for gas, we have the freedom to spoil everything, get in the car and go west to follow our dreams. You can not do that in an electric car, now can you?

Nevertheless, 73% said that their 75-mile self-sufficiency met their needs and a significant number of survey respondents indicated that the federal tax credit would not be an important part of their decision-making process if they decided to acquire an electric car. (They probably do not realize it could bring them $ 7,500 more.)

What are we left? The general impression is that people do not know much about electric cars and that most of what they know is wrong. Not good news for those who want the electric vehicle revolution to progress.

Education is the key, but who should educate? Those of us who own electric cars can certainly talk to their friends and neighbors and offer them driving tests, but if we rely on them, the revolution will not be complete until 2121 or so. The Earth just can not wait that long.

Manufacturers could do more. Electrify America is in the middle of an educational campaign and Audi has just decided to do the same, as it prepares to market its electric e-tron SUV. Congratulations to both of you Something (even though the work of Electrify America is a judicial warrant to deceive consumers and to illegally pollute our air). But what about other manufacturers? And how difficult would it be for car dealerships to organize educational events for electric vehicles?

We are not talking about boring lectures in which someone is constantly buzzing about electric cars. Some music, some hot dogs and a selection of electric cars to drive. One or two people who are well trained on site to answer people's questions. Not much money or time, but has anyone ever heard of a car dealer doing such a thing?

Those of us who are part of the CleanTechnica the community is well informed and likes to think that others are too. But the truth is that most American motorists have no idea how an electric car works or how to charge it. They do not know the joy of waking up every morning with a charged battery, unplugging the charger and driving all day on electrons instead of molecules.

If life on Earth was not in danger of disappearing, all these discussions on electric vehicles could only be the subject of badtail conversations, but we are on the brink of an existential crisis, a crisis that will overwhelm us soon. if we do not act immediately. On the one hand, it is from MINI USA for trying to understand consumer attitudes towards electric cars. On the other hand, BMW has been selling electric cars for many years and should already know what is needed to get its customers interested in electric vehicles. Perhaps Eagles says it best: "Things in this life change very slowly, if they ever change at all."

Keywords: Electric Vehicle Surveys, BMW, Electric Vehicle Education, Electric Vehicle Surveys, Mini, MINI Electric