General Motors has launched “EV Live,” a free online platform that connects electric vehicle owners or consumers with questions about zero-emission cars and trucks to experts who can answer those questions.
Courtesy: General Motors
DETROIT – Purchasing a vehicle has never been easier. But for the foreseeable future, shoppers entering traditional dealer showrooms may face a new challenge: an alphabet soup of “electric” vehicle offerings.
As all-electric vehicles gain popularity in the United States, automakers are increasingly introducing a variety of hybrid vehicles as alternatives to electric vehicles and traditional gasoline engines. Multiple vehicle models mean more choices for customers, but also make it more complex for automakers and consumers, many of whom have struggled for years after experiencing unprecedented supply chain shortages and record used car prices. Come back to the new car market for the first time.
“More choices on the market are good for consumers, but only if they understand the differences,” said Paul WattsDirector of Industry Analysis at AutoPacific. “There needs to be a clearer understanding of what terms and abbreviations actually mean and the potential benefits and drawbacks.”
Today, car shoppers can choose from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles; Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV); Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV); Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV); Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) ) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), also commonly referred to as EVs. It will also be launched later this year Strantis: A range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) is similar to a plug-in hybrid, but only available as an electric vehicle, with its electric motor powered by a gas engine.
Each type of vehicle may be more suitable for a different type of customer. With the exception of electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, all vehicles continue to offer traditional internal combustion engines combined with “electrification” technologies such as batteries or motors to improve performance or fuel economy.
Heather Seymour of St. Johns, Florida, said she did quite a bit of research before buying the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon plug-in hybrid, called the 4xe model.
“I knew I wanted to try a hybrid. I wasn’t ready to go fully electric, so I was definitely interested in a plug-in hybrid,” said Seymour, who said she typically uses SUVs for their all-electric range. Exceptions are made for long distance travel. “The more we learn, the better we understand what we want.”
Electric car naming
While consumers may not need to know every abbreviation or technology to find the right model, automakers aren’t helping the situation with consumer-oriented naming.
Hyundai’s Genesis brand, for example, calls its all-electric vehicles “electrified,” while many other brands reserve that term for hybrids. Chrysler’s Pacifica minivan is a plug-in hybrid and is called a regular “hybrid,” while Toyota calls some of its conventional hybrids “hybrid electrics.” Stellantis said its REEV vehicles are not PHEVs, although they operate similarly.
“Every automaker uses different terminology. There’s no standardization, and that creates some confusion for consumers,” Varty said.
General Motors’ 2024 Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicle (right) is seen side by side with a gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox on May 16, 2024 in Detroit.
Michael Weiland/CNBC
Some car manufacturers, e.g. General Motors The new electric cars also come under traditional nameplates like the Chevrolet Blazer and Equinox, which have little in common with gasoline-powered models other than their names.
Stellantis Jeep also uses the “Wagoneer” moniker for two large gasoline-powered SUVs and a smaller all-electric Wagoneer “S” SUV.
Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa said he wasn’t worried about any confusion because the brand has a strong naming tradition and customers can decide which vehicle best suits their needs.
“I believe we need education, but with education we give consumers a lot of choices,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s all for the benefit of the consumer. They’re going to have a lot of flexibility.”
education is key
One thing auto industry executives from Japan and South Korea to Detroit and Germany agree on is the need for consumer education.
Whether the cars are electric or fully electric, they are critical for automakers to meet stringent emissions and fuel economy targets as well as scale production, lower prices and increase profits.
“We don’t want to force customers to do something they’re not ready for,” Russell Wager, Kia’s U.S. vice president of marketing, told CNBC earlier this year. “We’re trying to educate them as best we can.”
2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Electric Car
jeep
Kia and its dealers have posted rumor-refuting pages online to address concerns or frequently asked questions about electric and hybrid vehicles. They range from technical questions about batteries to practical questions such as whether you can drive an electric car through a car wash (yes).
General Motors goes one step further. detroit automakers “EV Live” will be launched in 2022. “GM Energy Live” Participants can interact one-on-one with EV experts to learn about EVs and charging.
Ford recently launched its own video-based training program for its more than 3,000 U.S. franchise dealers to improve customer service, better engage employees and provide dealers and the company with more data to help sell vehicles.
Auto industry executives say companies and their dealers have a responsibility to be trained and educated on the merits of their vehicles, no matter what they are.
“At the end of the day, every customer is very different,” said Jérémie Papin, the company’s chairman. Nissan Americas, earlier this year. “I think it’s what the vehicle can do for them,” not necessarily how the technology works, he said.
automotive alphabet soup
The automotive industry has more powertrain and “propulsion” options than ever before. Here’s a breakdown:
- Internal Combustion Engine (ICE): A “conventional” vehicle with a gasoline or diesel fueled engine.
- Mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV): Internal combustion engine vehicles function largely like non-hybrid vehicles, but may include minimal electrification features such as small batteries, regenerative braking, or electric motors.
- Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): Consider the Toyota Prius, a vehicle that combines a hybrid system with an engine.
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV): These vehicles are equipped with an internal combustion engine and a hybrid powertrain, including a larger battery than a traditional hybrid vehicle and a plug to charge the vehicle’s battery. They typically allow drivers to drive a certain number of miles on the battery before the engine is needed to power the car or truck.
- Pure electric vehicle (BEV): These fully electric vehicles do not have an internal combustion engine. Instead, they contain an electric motor powered by a large battery. They need to be charged using an electrical outlet and a charging port or station.
- Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and devices operate much like pure electric vehicles, but are powered by electricity produced from hydrogen and oxygen rather than pure batteries that typically contain lithium. They are fitted with nozzles, similar to conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.
- Range Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV): These are an emerging technology that are primarily used as plug-in hybrids, but after the battery is depleted of energy to power the vehicle, the engine acts as a generator, specifically to power the electric motor. The vehicle still drives like an electric vehicle, rather than having the engine directly power the vehicle’s movement.
consumer adoption
According to Cox Automotive, 96% of people plan to buy a car If they knew more about how electric vehicle ownership works, they might consider buying an electric vehicle sooner, in three to five years, over the next 24 months.
That was the case for Florida residents Seymour and Kevin Storimans of Winnipeg, Canada, who rented a Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid. He said he wasn’t ready to buy a fully electric vehicle, so he decided to lease a plug-in hybrid as a way to save money on fuel and as a potential stepping stone to electric vehicles.
“It’s the best of both worlds. You have your gas engine. You have some electric range,” said Stolimans, who has driven V-8-powered Jeeps before. “Do your research. There is so much information and misinformation out there about plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.”
Cox Automotive says consumers spend more time on average researching electric vehicles than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. The company roughly found 9 out of 10 EV buyers They have considered purchasing a vehicle before visiting a dealership or ordering online.
“There’s a lot of information out there. It’s hard to explain,” said Stephanie Valdez Streeti. Cox Automotive Director of Industry Insights. “Education is very important. It’s consumer awareness, education and engagement.”
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