Market Research and Demand for EVs

Franklyn writes:

Thanks for the “Brass Tacks.” I am not suprised at your finding that market surveys very often ask the wrong questions and so get the wrong answers. The most recent in the auto field was of course the Ford Edsel.

I’m not sure that was the most recent, but in any case, thanks for the comment. And you’re so right about research – especially groundbreaking, paradigm-shifting things. I suppose all the discussion of consumer demand for EVs is mere speculation at this point. As you know, I personally believe that an EV at a good price and a decent range will sell like hotcakes—especially if it’s a family’s second car.

Speaking of paradigms, I think a great number of us are tired of “dad’s car,” “mom’s car,” and “Junior’s car.” We’re more than willing to trade that in for “the car for local driving” and “the car we take out of town when going someplace that will take us through a substantial stretch of questionable charging infrastructure.”

Even more to the point, I think a great number of us are rethinking our role as “consumers,” a word that actually means “destroyers.” Fortunately, more and more of us are not happy going through life destroying things for our own fleeting convenience.