Marketing Clean and Efficient Vehicles: A Review of Social Marketing and Social Science Approaches

In this report, the authors discuss the potential role of social marketing research and program to increase consumer demand for clean and efficient vehicles. They discuss theories and research approaches in the social marketing stream that can guide multi-year research efforts and a "transformation of the automobile market." The authors also discuss the selection of data collection techniques, such as focus groups and Internet surveys, to aid in identifying and selecting appropriate research methods

Symbolism In Early Markets For Hybrid Electric Vehicles

This study explores the symbolic meanings for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) being appropriated and communicated by the vehicles’ owners. As symbolic meanings are shown to be important to HEV purchase and use, understanding both the meanings and the social processes in the construction of these meanings is essential for policy makers and others hoping to promote “green” vehicles. HEVs embody new combinations of meanings in the vehicle market. Many observers who fail to recognize this struggle to explain why some people want HEVs. They may characterize HEV buyers as naïve about calculating payback on fuel economy, or call HEVs “a badge of honor” or status symbol. This research breaks through such simplistic categorizations. Through the telling and analysis of HEV buyers’ own stories this research takes a robust approach to understanding the creation and spread of new meanings and development of markets. Household buyers of the first generation of HEVs told these stories in semi-structured home interviews. Their stories are analyzed by drawing upon semiotics to explore the formation and structure of meanings. In particular, the study explores how widely recognized social (denotative) meanings are connected to more personal (connotative) meanings

New Car Dealers and Retail Innovation in California’s Plug-In Electric Vehicle Market

Innovative new products like plug-in electric vehicles may need new approaches to market and sell them. We 3 conducted 43 interviews with automakers and dealers selling plug-in vehicles in California’s major metro markets 4 and analyzed data on customer satisfaction with new car dealers and Tesla retail stores. Initial findings revealed: 5 • Plug-in vehicle buyers rated the dealer purchase experience much lower than conventional vehicle buyers 6 while Tesla earned industry-high scores; 7 • Plug-in buyers expect more from dealers than conventional buyers, including product knowledge and support 8 that extends beyond traditional offerings; 9 • Profits from plug-in vehicles may not be compelling enough to convince more dealers to take on the greater 10 demands of selling these alternatives 11 • New retail approaches undertaken by dealer “pioneers”, including new methods for building and scaling 12 dealer competence, could improve the PEV buying experience; and 13 • More "retail friendly" public incentives could improve program effectiveness. 14 Evidence suggests that pre-existing retail structure in the automotive sector could spur retail innovations for PEVs, 15 but may also hinder the quality of customer support and pace of diffusion amongst dealers and customers. The paper 16 examines the implications of these findings and advances opportunities polic

Plug-In Electric Vehicles: A Case Study of Seven Markets

At the current stage of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market development, sales rates vary dramatically across different countries and regions. For policy-makers and other stakeholders it is useful to understand the major social, economic, and policy drivers of vehicle adoption. This paper provides insights into the developing PEV markets in Norway, Netherlands, California, United States, France, Japan, and Germany. This is accomplished by applying a Technological Innovation System (TIS) approach that systematically identifies the role of different factors in promulgating new markets. Our comparison between markets shows that in all studied regions, sales of PEVs are supported through various types of government incentives, government resources, and other legitimation activities. However, regions with relatively strong PEV markets have a greater focus on market formation activities and relatively higher costs savings associated with operating an electric vehicle as compared to a conventional vehicle. To determine whether these factors are the primary determinants of PEV market shares, further research should be undertaken that also incorporates analysis related to the presence and government support for entrepreneurial activities related to electric vehicle innovation

A review of consumer preferences of and interactions with electric vehicle charging infrastructure

This paper presents a literature review of studies that investigate infrastructure needs to support the market introduction of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). It focuses on literature relating to consumer preferences for charging infrastructure, and how consumers interact with and use this infrastructure. This includes studies that use questionnaire surveys, interviews, modelling, GPS data from vehicles, and data from electric vehicle charging equipment. These studies indicate that the most important location for PEV charging is at home, followed by work, and then public locations. Studies have found that more effort is needed to ensure consumers have easy access to PEV charging and that charging at home, work, or public locations should not be free of cost. Research indicates that PEV charging will not impact electricity grids on the short term, however charging may need to be managed when the vehicles are deployed in greater numbers. In some areas of study the literature is not sufficiently mature to draw any conclusions from. More research is especially needed to determine how much infrastructure is needed to support the roll out of PEVs. This paper ends with policy implications and suggests avenues of future research

A core outcome set for pre‐eclampsia research: an international consensus development study

Objective To develop a core outcome set for pre‐eclampsia. Design Consensus development study. Setting International. Population Two hundred and eight‐one healthcare professionals, 41 researchers and 110 patients, representing 56 countries, participated. Methods Modified Delphi method and Modified Nominal Group Technique. Results A long‐list of 116 potential core outcomes was developed by combining the outcomes reported in 79 pre‐eclampsia trials with those derived from thematic analysis of 30 in‐depth interviews of women with lived experience of pre‐eclampsia. Forty‐seven consensus outcomes were identified from the Delphi process following which 14 maternal and eight offspring core outcomes were agreed at the consensus development meeting. Maternal core outcomes: death, eclampsia, stroke, cortical blindness, retinal detachment, pulmonary oedema, acute kidney injury, liver haematoma or rupture, abruption, postpartum haemorrhage, raised liver enzymes, low platelets, admission to intensive care required, and intubation and ventilation. Offspring core outcomes: stillbirth, gestational age at delivery, birthweight, small‐for‐gestational‐age, neonatal mortality, seizures, admission to neonatal unit required and respiratory support. Conclusions The core outcome set for pre‐eclampsia should underpin future randomised trials and systematic reviews. Such implementation should ensure that future research holds the necessary reach and relevance to inform clinical practice, enhance women's care and improve the outcomes of pregnant women and their babies

Marketing Clean and Efficient Vehicles: A Review of Social Marketing and Social Science Approaches

In this report, the authors discuss the potential role of social marketing research and program to increase consumer demand for clean and efficient vehicles. They discuss theories and research approaches in the social marketing stream that can guide multi-year research efforts and a "transformation of the automobile market." The authors also discuss the selection of data collection techniques, such as focus groups and Internet surveys, to aid in identifying and selecting appropriate research methods

Marketing Clean and Efficient Vehicles: Workshop Proceedings

Moving the marketplace to clean and efficient vehicles is proving a complex, difficult, and long-term project. The first step, the development and commercialization of several technologies including electric, hybrid-electric, and alternative fuel vehicles is well underway. Now we must take the next step – transforming marketplace values. The challenges are formidable. There is a legacy of recent market trends. In recent years the automobile industry has focused on selling the size, power, and rugged image of truck-like vehicles; this strategy has produced some of their most profitable vehicles. Now, many consumers associate heavy, roomy, powerful, inefficient vehicle designs with images of the good life of recreation and adventure, the capacity to pick-up major home appliances at suburban superstores, or the ability to transport their child’s soccer team. These same consumers are largely ignorant that light-duty trucks – vans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks – are allowed by policy to be less efficient and more polluting per vehicle mile. Ironically, there is a probably a sizable contingent of self-described environmentally conscious buyers who drive large, four-wheel drive SUVs. In our own locale, it is common to see such vehicles proudly decorated with bumper stickers exhorting people to “Keep Tahoe Blue.” (The reference is to efforts to maintain the lake’s prized clarity, a problem that appears to be connected in part to pollution from the growing populations of the Sierra Nevada foothills and Central Valley.) In such a market, how do we begin facilitate the expression of the values of efficiency, environmental stewardship, public health, and community

Progress in Electric Vehicle Technology and Electric Vehicles from 1990 to 2000: The Role of California's Zero Emission Vehicle Production Requirement

This report provides a look at the progress in the development of zero emission vehicles beginning in the early 1990s and the important role played by California's Zero Emission Vehicle production requirements. The authors describe the development of better acceleration, top speeds, range per charge, and range per day of new electric vehicles during this period, noting the changes from “golf cars to race cars.” They document the road from the laboratory to the market place for electric vehicles. They describe various components of the vehicles from drive trains and alternating current to drive trains and direct current, battery management systems, regenerative braking system, and air conditioning and heating, among others

Progress in Electric Vehicle Technology and Electric Vehicles from 1990 to 2000: The Role of California's Zero Emission Vehicle Production Requirement

This report provides a look at the progress in the development of zero emission vehicles beginning in the early 1990s and the important role played by California's Zero Emission Vehicle production requirements. The authors describe the development of better acceleration, top speeds, range per charge, and range per day of new electric vehicles during this period, noting the changes from “golf cars to race cars.” They document the road from the laboratory to the market place for electric vehicles. They describe various components of the vehicles from drive trains and alternating current to drive trains and direct current, battery management systems, regenerative braking system, and air conditioning and heating, among others