• October 7, 2010

Automakers are rolling out alternative powertrain vehicles at a steady clip in coming years, but Americans aren't keeping up, when it comes to even a basic understanding of the differences between them. That's according to a new survey from Mercedes-Benz USA conducted online in July 2010 by Harris Interactive, which suggests that Americans are confused about the differences between hybrid, electric, plug-in hybrid, and alternative fuels of various kinds.

The survey found that 48% of adults would be interested in purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle but are not sure about what type to get (e.g., hybrid, electric, diesel) and only about 35% say they know which types of alternative vehciles are best for various driving situations such as in-city, highway, or suburbs. The survey suggests that more adults are better informed about issues like the global financial meltdown, blood chemistry and the volume of oil dumped into the Gulf of Mexico this summer than they are about auto powertrain options.

Seventy-one percent of repondents said they are not at all or only somewhat knowledgeable about the difference between various types of alternative fuel vehicles, and a quarter said they were clueless about the differences. Men are more likely than women to say they are knowledgeable or very knowledgeable, and more than half of adults polled (58%) said they have never considered purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle, while nearly two in five (39%) have. Only 3% already own one.