Americans Still Prefer Gas Vehicles Over Hybrid or EVs, Study Shows
Americans still prefer to buy a standard gas vehicle over a hybrid or an electric vehicle even with the same price and features, a KPMG study, said on Thursday. Only one-fifth of people surveyed said they would purchase an EV over a gas-powered vehicle or hybrid vehicle.
The study shows a gap in expectations between U.S. consumers and auto industry executives for EV charging times during road trips. Sixty percent of U.S. consumers want charging in 20 minutes or less compared with 41% who are willing to wait longer according to auto executives, the study said. The study also found fewer consumers are likely to pay for self-driving features and entertainment as compared to safety, Wi-Fi and charging locator.
2024 AFLA Fleet Conference: Meet Keynote Speaker David Horsager
Registration is open for the AFLA 2024 Annual Corporate Fleet Conference September 15-18 at the La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio. Be the Driving Spirit propelling your organization to new levels of success by reserving your seat and your room today.
AFLA is pleased to welcome David Horsager to open our Annual Corporate Fleet Conference as Keynote Speaker. David is The Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Trust Edge and the leading global expert in building high-trust leaders and organizations. Mark your calendars to get inspired and kick-off the conference on a high note. Register Today!
Should Your Company Pay for Home Chargers for Your EV Fleet? A Guide to Cost-Saving and Efficient Charging Solutions
By David Lewis, Founder and CEO, MoveEV
By taking a thoughtful approach to employees’ individual situations, fleet managers can design a take-home EV program that fits their drivers’ needs and benefits the company’s bottom line in the long run.
For many fleet drivers, especially those covering less than 10,000 miles annually, the standard Level 1 charger that plugs into a 120v (standard) wall outlet and comes with their EV is perfectly adequate. For higher mileage drivers with faster charging needs, a non-networked Level 2 charger represents a compelling option.
Driving Habits That Increase Fuel Economy
People concerned with getting better fuel economy should monitor their driving. Reports say that vehicles use 15 percent more fuel at 62 miles per hour and 25 percent more at 68 MPH due to wind resistance. However, driving too slow can also cause you to use more fuel due to being in a lower gear.
One way people can improve their car’s fuel economy is to clear out any unnecessary clutter. Naturally, carrying more cargo in a vehicle means it will burn more gallons of fuel each mile the person drives. This is especially true for the rear of the car. By some estimates, vehicles use about 2% more fuel for every extra 110 pounds of cargo.
Hybrid Vehicles Aren’t Just an EV Bridge, Ford CEO Farley Says
Ford CEO Jim Farley wants the industry to stop viewing hybrid vehicles as only an interim solution to be used until drivers are comfortable going fully electric.
"We should stop talking about it as transitional technology," Farley said of hybrids at a Bernstein analyst conference on Thursday.
Plug-in hybrids, which include a small battery that can be used for shorter distances, may not be relevant in a few years, Farley said. However, extended-range hybrids are an important technology for the industry's future, he said. Presumably, he was referring to vehicles similar to the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which has a rather large battery pack, but also a gas engine generator to provide electricity when the battery has drained.
