[RDale]

Polestar took a survey of 5,086 American drivers in January and found that 55% of their respondents bought an EV "for reasons other than environmental benefits"

It got me wondering if this was the same for us Lightning fans/owners. Vote in the poll on if the main reason you ordered/bought your Lightning was due to the environment or not. Let's see what the results are.

Polestar Cars Finds Majority of US Drivers Don’t Purchase Electric Vehicles for Environmental Reasons

Polestar, the Swedish premium electric performance car brand, has conducted research that has found that 55 percent of US drivers purchase electric cars for reasons other than environmental benefits. In-vehicle technology, seamless connectivity and infotainment system offerings have been named...

media.polestar.com

• New survey reveals 55% US drivers purchase an electric car for reasons other than environmental benefits
• Almost half of respondents are open to buying an electric car from a new brand, many more than with a gasoline powered vehicle
• Generational differences affect rationale for electric car purchase

MAHWAH, N.J. (July 26, 2022) – Polestar, the Swedish premium electric performance car brand, has conducted research that has found that 55 percent of US drivers purchase electric cars for reasons other than environmental benefits. In-vehicle technology, seamless connectivity and infotainment system offerings have been named as the most important decisions for consumers switching to an electric car from an internal-combustion vehicle.

“The idea of luxury being defined by what’s ‘under the hood’ has been replaced in the electric era with the prioritization of seamless connectivity, integration into existing digital ecosystems, and good UX design,” said Gregor Hembrough, Head of Polestar North America. “People are switching to electric cars for more than just environmental reasons, and Polestar’s focus on in-vehicle technology means they can have everything they want in an environmentally friendly package.”

Polestar 2 was the first vehicle to market with the revolutionary Google-developed infotainment system. The system features Google built-in, including industry-leading voice control via Google Assistant. This enables control of functions using natural voice commands, including navigation through Google Maps, the climate system, music, phone and more.

Brand image also makes a difference to consumers based on age demographics. Fifty-seven percent of millennials (ages 25 to 40) are confident in new electric car brands compared to only 28 percent of Baby Boomers (ages 57 to 75). Nearly half (46 percent) of all respondents are more open to new brands and start-ups such as Polestar when it comes to purchasing an electric car.

Despite eco-consciousness not necessarily being a driving factor for over half of respondents, younger drivers are also much more concerned with appearing environmentally conscious compared to their older counterparts. For Gen Z respondents (ages 18-24), image is a big factor, with 12 percent saying it would be the most important consideration when choosing an electric car compared to an internal-combustion vehicle. That is twice as many as Millennials (ages 25-41), and more than three times as many as Baby Boomers ages (57-74).

To obtain this data, Polestar commissioned a third-party survey, fielded earlier this year with more than 5,000 electric and internal combustion drivers across all 50 US states. The survey questioned drivers on the state of electric car acceptance, charging infrastructure, and the perception of electric car brands when purchasing a vehicle.

 

[GDN]

Didn't read the whole article, but almost no one buys one of today's hot EV's for the environment. I don't care what you say. If you are buying for the environment, you have to buy one the small true economical cars that are ugly.

If you are paying $60K+ for a Tesla, Polestar, Lightning - you are buying for other reasons. These makes are likely more than any of us need for most daily activities and also a waste. One might be less harsh on the environment if you just want to look at gasoline, but you can't say you are doing it for the environment.

 

[COLightning]

No, I am just after the latest and greatest that the automotive industry has to offer in pickup form. And for me that's the Lightning. It was the Rivian R1T at one point, but being a Ford loyalist and knowing there's no shortage of dealers, it was an obvious choice.

 

[THEsocalledfan]

I'm in the no camp. EV's, in the short term are way worse for the environment; they need to be driven a long time to make up. I do plan on doing that, so hopefully i'm helping.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

• CONVENIENCE of charging/fueling AT HOME, at my leisure - no stops at 'fuel stations' on a daily/regular basis
• NO TRANSMISSION, no gear changes, no shifting, just a SMOOTH ride
• NO IDLING - it is just 'ON', no matter HOW LONG you sit there, whether you turn it off, or not...
• NO MAINTENANCE, well, at least NO ENGINE OIL, NO TRANSMISSION FLUID... you get the idea
• QUIET....yes, I said QUIET(shhhhhhh!) I couldn't even hear my wife arrive at home in her EV, only the dog could!

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

and, maybe the BEST option Ever _ CAMPING without worrying about 'where' to stop to plug in!
[this is a GAME CHANGER for those traveling with their campers]

Air Conditioning never felt so good!

 

[HappyGooseBC]

My reasons, in order, are:

1. Driving Experience (based on driving an EV over an ICE vehicle)
2. Back-up power
3. Financial (running cost vs ICE)

Environmental impact is a feel-good factor, but not a purchase driver.

 

[FM_Jack]

Nope. I just finally got sick of the functionality gas prices, and while there is a laundry list of S you can go over political wise: I just want to do whatever to ignore the oil industry. That being side, from my cold dead hands is what it'll take to give up my manual V8 S550. Unless the S650 is going to have a manual boss.

But no, I know you aren't really helping the environment with these. Actually some more interest and money put towards zero net carbon fuel. That looks promising. Or that concrete that doesn't emit carbon.

Hell, cloud storage hurts the environment - don't all modern cars use that to some extent?

 

[jodgey]

I’m a big believer in the change from fossil fuels. I’m willing to pay the price to be an early adopter. There are a whole host of other benefits, being infinitely more fun to drive, or never having to stop at a gas station and put $150 in mid week, reducing the whimsical impact of foreign countries on our life (see Russian oil/gas flow reduction), it kind of makes the reason moot.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Didn't read the whole article, but almost no one buys one of today's hot EV's for the environment. I don't care what you say. If you are buying for the environment, you have to buy one the small true economical cars that are ugly.

Not true. There are those of us who need a truck and want the most environmentally-friendly truck we can get.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I'm in the no camp. EV's, in the short term are way worse for the environment; they need to be driven a long time to make up. I do plan on doing that, so hopefully i'm helping.

Actually, the environmental break-even point of switching to a new EV is about one year.

Are electric cars 'green'? The answer is yes, but it's complicated

Electric vehicles have surged in demand, and hit a record number last year as more and more people turn to battery-operated cars.

www.cnbc.com

 

[jodgey]

Actually, the environmental break-even point of switching to a new EV is about one year.

Are electric cars 'green'? The answer is yes, but it's complicated

Electric vehicles have surged in demand, and hit a record number last year as more and more people turn to battery-operated cars.

www.cnbc.com

Also, remember, the ice production pipeline has had over 100 years to develop and optimize. The battery/ev journey has to start somewhere, technologies and its availability needs to scale and become more widely available, stock materials and processes will start to flow into a recycle stream, production points will pop up at multiple locations, new technologies /materials Will develop and become commercial soon (looking at you solid state battery).
it’s thearguement that was deriding the model 3 because they missed their 1st quarter production target by 50% or so. The Guy was literally transforming the auto industry in real time, and the world was ready to throw whole thing out because he could hit a home run on his first swing. I’m just excited to finally be able to take part in this transformation I have been craving for decades.

 

[Jerm2006]

I am one of the surprisingly small number of yes camp. It is actually the only reason I would ever spend as much money on a vehicle. Otherwise I would be driving my old 13 Tacoma for another 300k miles. Not only are electric vehicles better for the environment, they are much better to reduce greenhouse gases over their life. And that is today. With energy changing to more renewables, they get even better at this task over their life. With materials being created, recycled and built in more efficient, and greener ways, they get even better at this task from new. The sky is the limit right now with this technology, and we are just at the start.

I use to design, and support diesel fuel injectors, and turbos (several in Fords) and I can say ICE vehicles are tapped out of innovation and its clear. The only use for them is for some of us car driving enthusiast who like a good light weight, manual transmission, feel every portion of the drivetrain in our bodies type who want to get out on the track sometimes. Other than that, soon EVs will be better at every discipline of racing, commuting, driving, and yes even towing. Last one probably the most difficult.