Fact #250: January 13, 2003
Public Knowledge of Hybrid Technology
According to an Opinion Research survey, public awareness of hybrid vehicles is growing. Respondents were asked the question:
There are some cars in the U.S. market today that have advanced hybrid electric powertrains that combine a small electric motor and a small gasoline engine to achieve a higher fuel economy than similar cars. How much have you heard about this technology?
In 2002, 20% of respondents answered that they had heard a great deal about hybrid technology, and another 35% had heard some information on the subject. The same question was asked in 2000 and 2001 surveys, with a smaller share of respondents indicating they had heard of hybrid technology.
Source: Random phone surveys conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on August 3, 2000 (N = 953), November 6, 2001 (N = 1,000), and November 16, 2002 (N = 999).
Supporting Information
| August 3, 2000 | November 6, 2001 | November 16, 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Great Deal | 13% | 10% | 20% |
| Some | 33% | 33% | 35% |
| Very Little | 34% | 30% | 26% |
| Nothing | 20% | 26% | 18% |
| Don't Know | 0% | 2% | 1% |
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