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.

The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) 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 convenience, 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 Redwood City community, however, feel differently.

"We have two hybrids: a Camry and a Highlander. I can't imagine going back to a regular car unless it was very fuel efficient," said Julie Thompson Goebel.

The city has also been more accommodating to those who drive hybrid or electric vehicles. Staff recently installed electric charging stations in the parking garages on Jefferson Avenue and Marshall Street, using a $20,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, another $20,000 grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAQMD) and matching city funds.

Five more stations will soon be installed:

• Municipal Service Center (Public Works Corporation Yard), 1400 Broadway
• Parking lot at the intersection of Middlefield Road and Winslow Street
• Red Morton Park – Community Activities Building – 1400 Roosevelt Ave.
• With the last two to be determined

The first Nissan LEAF, the first all electric vehicle in the Bay Area, was also back in December of last year.

Stacie Chan contributed to this article.