When you talk to experts at industry conferences about what’s influencing market conditions, a few common threads emerge:
Oil Imports and Energy Security: This is where gasoline and diesel prices come to play. Beneath worries about fuel prices spiking, there’s usually an ominous perspective for much of the American public that’s connected to terrorism and war, the influence of OPEC nations, and the devastating impact fuel price spikes have on the economy.
Air Pollution and Health Hazards: Studies done in certain markets find that many consumers are very much concerned about the harmful effects of breathing tailpipe emissions – asthma and respiratory disease are commonly mentioned.
Climate Change and Sustainability: Not long ago, Nissan featured a TV spot with a Leaf owner hugging a polar bear, referring to melting polar ice caps in the age of global warming and climate change. There’s a real clash in America over the issue of climate change, that doesn’t have the same polarizing effect as in other countries.
Keeping Up with the Joneses: Most people put off investing in a new technology unless one or more people in their social circles that are respected – and envied – buy into it, and show it off at the next social gathering.
Car Guys: At industry conferences, there’s a lot of focus on the needed charging and fueling infrastructure, battery systems, power station energy sources, etc. There’s less attention placed on the vehicles themselves, and not enough awareness and understanding is being presented on what’s under the hood and on the dashboard.
