Selling Electric Vehicles - Easy. Charging Options - Very Tricky

May 19, 2011 - A new survey from Accenture finds that the majority of consumers are interested in buying plug-in electric vehicles (PEV). But how consumers charge those vehicles is a complicated issue, with charging infrastructure and cost being top concerns.

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Accenture (NYSE: ACN) surveyed 7,000 consumers in 13 countries and found that consumer preferences for charging PEVs could increase the cost and complexity of managing the electricity grid and charging infrastructure.

Here are the figures: 60% of consumers would consider buying a PEV for their next car purchase. 68% would probably or certainly do so within the next three years (23% certainly, 45% probably). Respondents in China are by far the most enthusiastic, 96% of them probably or certainly considering a purchase in the next three years.

Consumers' preferences for charging PEVs, however, could challenge utilities and charging service providers by increasing grid congestion and peak time electricity demand...

Consumers would also need more supportive charging infrastructure in order to adopt fully electric PEVs. Only 29% of car drivers would buy fully electric PEVs. 71% would prefer plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs), which run on gasoline / diesel once the battery runs low. 85% say fully electric PEVs have insufficient battery range to cover their daily driving needs. But 83% cite the insufficient availability of charging points and 70% think charging times for full plug-in EVs are too long.

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