Most drivers (78 percent) are familiar with the electric drive as an alternative form of propulsion by name. However, 60 percent have never dealt with electric vehicles. When asked "Do you feel well informed about electric cars?", 60 percent also answered "no". This was the result of the Trend-Tacho survey conducted by the trade magazine "kfz-betrieb" and the expert organization KÜS.



The main source of information for almost 40 percent of those interested in electric vehicles is the Internet, followed by visits to car dealerships (36 percent), special articles in trade magazines and newspapers (31 percent) and conversations with acquaintances (11 percent). In contrast, only four percent of those surveyed would obtain information about electric cars in specialist electrical stores.



One in five drivers believes that Mercedes-Benz "already builds vehicles with electric drives today". This is followed by the car manufacturers VW (18 percent), BMW (16 percent), Toyota (12 percent) and Opel (9 percent). However, 42 percent of respondents were unable to name a manufacturer of e-cars.



Just under 30 percent of consumers could imagine buying an electric vehicle as their next car. However, potential buyers have clear requirements: For a good one in two potential buyers, the electric car should have the same range as a petrol car and for 75 percent, it should have four seats and a trunk.



The complete Trend-Tacho study with all the survey results on the awareness of alternative drive types, future opportunities and purchase intentions as well as the requirements for manufacturers of electric vehicles is available to interested parties for just 49 euros. E-mail: info@kfz-betrieb.de.



"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for 100 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (ZDK), the professional lobby for around 38,000 car dealerships and workshops. Daily news from the entire automotive industry is available at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter. The parent company Vogel Business Media is one of the leading German providers of specialist information with around 100 trade journals and 60 websites as well as numerous international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. The company celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2011.