A new survey conducted by GKN Driveline has revealed that Germans now prefer plug-in hybrids to conventional hybrids by a substantial margin. 75% of the more than 1,000 motorists queried said that they prefer plug-in hybrids, to be exact.
The online survey also revealed that 61.2% of those surveyed were of the opinion that a 50-kilometer range would meet their daily needs.
Despite all of this, Germans appear to be of the opinion that “practical considerations” with regard to cars are more important than the environment — with 96% saying that while they are “environmentally conscious” to some degree, when it comes to cars, practical considerations are more important.
So don’t expect anyone there to give up their luxury sedan for the sake of the environment apparently. (Not that Americans are going to willingly give up their SUVs of course…)
Other interesting findings of the survey include:
- 81% of those surveyed are wary of hybrids.
- 62.8% cite “poor value for money” as the primary reason why.
- Only 25% described all-wheel drive vehicles as being expensive to buy and use. 73% associated the vehicles with off-road driving capability; 37% with safety; and 36% with improved performance.
- 49% stated that they expected their car dealership to offer plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options.
- 52% agreed that their perfect car would feature plug-in charging and all-wheel drive.
- The factors most likely to convince drivers to consider a PHEV: increased charging station availability (52%); tax incentives (45%); performance improvements (33%); and environmental concerns (32%).
GKN Driveline senior analyst Theo Gassmann commented: “It’s clear that for many drivers, making future vehicles more rewarding to drive is as important as protecting the environment.”
Of course, the point not made here is that people are in fact entirely dependent upon the so-called “environment,” so “protecting” the environment is, when it comes down to it, a necessity for human survival. But doing so would require something that people seem to have in only minute quantities — a genuine interest in the long-term.