VIRGINIA BEACH — According to a national survey by AAA, one-in-five drivers in the United States wants an electric vehicle.
Does that hold true in Virginia Beach?
“One-in-five sounds pretty high,” said Glenn Sandler, a sales associate at Charles Barker Toyota.
Sandler suspects that many people aren’t clear about the difference between a true “electric” car or a hybrid, which has a traditional combustion engine as well as a battery powered motor that can power the car after being charged.
Sandler said Toyota has sold more than 8 million units of the Prius, one of the earliest hybrid cars to hit the market, debuting some 20 years ago.
“We still have people who think the Prius is an electric vehicle,” he said.
The survey by AAA says 50 million American buyers will “likely” go for an electric car as their next purchase. “Range anxiety” (how far a vehicle will travel between charges) among buyers was beginning to ease, while other factors such as reliability and safety were also considerations for consumers.
Cost is also sometimes a factor.
Don Blea, a sales manager at Hall Honda, said Honda’s new Clarity can be a little pricey for some buyers.
“But for those who love Honda, they won’t buy anything else,” he said.
Blea said their electric car sales are “pretty steady,” but they receive only two or three a month, and usually sell them.
To help buyers in their search for a “green” vehicle, AAA has listed for 2018 its Top Green Vehicle Awards online.
“A first-time buyer may feel overwhelmed or confused by the differences between gas-powered, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric,” said Georjean Blumling, vice president of public affairs for AAA Tidewater Virginia. “Our evaluations are designed to help drivers select a safe, comfortable, and reliable vehicle – not just the most efficient one.”
RK Chevrolet sales associate Dennis Wright said despite being No. 1 in the state in sales and carrying the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt, the dealership doesn’t “get a ton of interest” in electric cars.
“We have people who are interested, but it’s not something that is a big part of our sales numbers here,” Wright said.
The price of a Bolt may seem high, stickering in the range of $37,000-$38,000, but Wright doesn’t think cost discourages most potential buyers, noting their sales numbers in trucks and cars that sticker for that price or more.
“If people are looking at an electric vehicle but not buying, it’s probably not the cost,” Wright said.
