Fact #275: July 7, 2003
Safety Ranks as Top Concern for New Fuels

A Harris Interactive Poll conducted in April 2003 found that Americans ranked fuel safety, fuel cost, and vehicle range as the top three considerations in deciding to try a new vehicle fuel.

Respondents were asked the question: "When deciding whether or not you will use a new fuel technology, how important are each of the following factors? Is (item) extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important?"

Respondents answering "extremely important" or "very important" are shown in the graph.

Supporting Information

Factors considered extremely important or very important
in influencing decisions to try a new fuel technology

Factor	Share of Respondents
How safe the fuel is for drivers and passengers	83%
The cost of the fuel	78%
How far you can drive before refueling	75%
The cost of the vehicles	72%
The convenience of refueling	67%
Environmental emissions	67%
Whether the fuel source is domestic instead of foreign	47%
How the new fuel system affects passenger/cargo space	45%
Whether or not the fuel can be recycled	45%
Note: Millennium Cell, Inc. and U.S. Borax, Inc. sponsored this nationally representative sample of 1,006 Americans age 18 or older interviewed from April 17 to April 20, 2003. Margin of error +/- 3%. Source: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2003 Conference and Trade Show, "Consumer Demand as a Driver for New Technology," presented by Stephen S. Tang, Millennium Cell, Inc.

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