Survey Shows Gas-Powered Vehicles Still Preferred Nationwide

A recent nationwide survey reveals gasoline-fueled vehicles are still favored amongst Americans in comparison to other alternative-fuel vehicles, and some Belmont residents say that may be due to drivers unwilling to change.

The Mineta Transportation Institute administered the survey to 835 households across the nation between February and March of 2010.

Respondents were asked to choose their preference among four AFVs—hybrid electric vehicles, compressed natural gas vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and electric vehicles.

Although gasoline-fueled vehicles remained the preference, interest in AFVs has grown considerably, namely with hybrid electric vehicles, and a large chunk of those surveyed expressed displeasure with gas-fueled cars.

“Although one-third of respondents ranked gasoline-fueled vehicles as their first choice, 20 percent of respondents ranked gasoline vehicles last, and there is a strong interest in AFVs,” said Dr. Hilary Nixon, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at San Jose State University.”

No alternative-fuel vehicle holds a definitive edge over the others, but hybrids are slightly the most popular after gas-fueled vehicles and electric vehicles came in last, namely due to their shortcomings in range and recharging time.

“The vehicle range trade-off primarily concerns EVs, and it highlights the importance of range for our respondents,” said Dr. Jean Saphores, an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Planning, and Economics at the University of California, Irvine.

“The respondents also place a very high value on refueling con venience, which emphasizes the importance of providing enough refueling infrastructure to make AFVs a viable transportation option for households,” Saphores said.

AFVs are significantly more beneficial to the environment, but the survey, as well as its proprietors, suggests that environmental benefits are not a large selling point to consumers when making considerably large purchases.

Some members of the Belmont community, however, feel differently.

“I certainly see the benefits of the hybrid vehicle,” said Tom Lila, a local resident. “I wish I had one, but I’m still clinging to the old ways to be quite frank about it.”

“I’ve always been fascinated with alternative forms of fuel, especially with the increase in gas prices it seems every year,” said Sidney Charles. “I think people are just accustomed to having gas-guzzling vehicles so they haven’t really given hybrids an opportunity.”

Another drawback of alternatively fueled vehicles may be their lack of “road experience,” meaning they have not been a part of the mainstream for a considerable amount of time.

“I’m not shocked because change always comes slow and hybrid vehicles have yet to achieve the track record of durability and familiarity that gas-powered vehicles do, but I would expect that that will come in time,” said Lila when asked if he was surprised that gas-powered vehicles still maintain precedence.