New Survey Finds Majority of Americans Are Confused About Alternative Fuel Options (Originally Published October 7, 2010)

Thanks for the confusion Big Oil

Editor's Note (August 22, 2018): It's been 8 years since the original publication of this article and what has changed? NOTHING! And just this week President Trump is proposing bringing back gasoline caused smog and giving Big OIl another billion dollar a day profit, WTF

When every vehicle on America's roads uses domestic, sustainable and green fuels, MPG will become just what it should be, a personal economic choice, not a national security issue

Co-Publisher's Comments: This research report comes as no surprise to us, because since 2006 we've told you that it is in Big Oil's interest to continue to decimate the big lie that "there is no silver bullet, not just one solution to get America off of gasoline". As we've preached over the past 4 years if there are "many solutions" there is no solution, continuing the status-quo through Big Oil's strategy of Divide and Conquer

So today we want to thank Mercedes-Benz USA and Harris Research for placing into the record indisputable evidence of the success of the Divide and Conquer effort, which continues to work for Big Oil and its masters and against the interests of the citizens of every country in the world (with the exception of…oh you know who).

Big Oil NEEDS AMERICANS TO STAY CONFUSED AND DOCILE about alt fuels, so they can profit from their monopoly, and continue to force us to buy a TRILLION DOLLARS worth of their old fashioned gasoline every year (for how long?). Adding to the confusion are the oil company's "green fuel" TV ads that exclaim "how hard they are working on many ALT fuels”, we see these commercials and print ads as a well thought out and executed element of Big Oil's successful campaign of confusion.

Unwittingly (or not) the U.S. government is an enabler of Big Oil's status quo strategy, with daily rhetoric of increased MPG and the fairy-tale of a replacement of gasoline by electric vehicles. Over the past few years we have stated that "MPG is a code word for screw Americans, and "let them keep using gasoline"...because if we were all using domestic, sustainable and green, High-test Flex-fuel (e-85),CNG, Propane, Biodiesel or even a Flux Capacitor, MPG would become what it should be, just a personal economic choice, not a national security issue. What is actually important is not a vehicle's MPG but which fuel a car or truck uses.

So we scream isn't it time for patriotic Americans to get pissed off, and demand that their government, as a first giant step, clear up the alt fuel confusion and get us out from under the ticking diplomatic and military time-bombs, by mandating the immediate drop-in replacement for OPEC dominated, monopolistic and criminal gasoline, by patriotic, sustainable and green High-Test Fuel; Gasohol(E85), this would buy us the luxury of time and provide the capital resources to research an eventual replacement (or not) of Gasohol with a yet unproven or undiscovered future fuel. What Do You Think? bgordon@theautochannel.com.

MONTVALE, N.J., Oct. 7. 2010; For 50 years, Americans focused on things like horsepower, color, and design when deciding which car to buy. Today, that decision includes even more mystifying choices, including how the vehicle is powered; Is it a hybrid? Is it electric? Does it take regular gasoline or diesel fuel? A new survey from Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) conducted online in July 2010 by Harris Interactive suggests that Americans are having a hard time figuring out what to make of all these choices, and as a result, many are holding off on purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV). (Divide and Conquer)

The survey found that nearly one in two adults (48%) would be interested in purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle but are not sure about what type to get (e.g., hybrid, electric, diesel) and only about one in three (35%) say they know which types of AFVs are best for various driving situations (e.g., city, suburban, highway). In fact, more adults claim to be knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about the causes of the global financial crisis, the difference between good and bad cholesterol and the amount of oil that has spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, than they are about the difference between various types of alternative fuel vehicles.

"The end game is zero-emissions driving that doesn't simply transfer the problem. And, while that is still in the future, each alternative fuel vehicle we introduce is a step in that direction, providing key findings and helping acclimate consumers to new technology," said Sascha Simon, head of advanced product planning at Mercedes-Benz USA. "Our goal at Mercedes-Benz is to provide a portfolio of options for our customers so they can choose the vehicle that best suits their lifestyle and to further the understanding and, ultimately, the adoption rate for these new technologies."

Detailed information on each option is available on the "Thinking Green" section of Mercedes-Benz's website at http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/innovation/thinking_green/overview. The site includes information on Mercedes-Benz's BlueTEC clean diesel vehicles (E350 BlueTEC, ML350 BlueTEC, GL450 BlueTEC and R350 BlueTEC), hybrid vehicles (S400 HYBRID, ML450 HYBRID and hydrogen electric vehicles (B-Class F-Cell), flexible fuel options as well as tips for driving green.

Among the findings from the MBUSA/Harris Interactive survey:

A vast majority of U.S. adults (71%) say they are not at all or only somewhat knowledgeable about the difference between various types of alternative fuel vehicles.
- One in four adults (25%) is not at all knowledgeable about the difference between various types of alternative fuel vehicles.
- More adults claim to be knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about the causes of the global financial crisis (34%), the difference between good and bad cholesterol (45%), and the amount of oil that has spilled into the Gulf of Mexico (46%) than about the difference among various types of alternative fuel vehicles (29%).
- Men are more likely than women to say they are knowledgeable or very knowledgeable (41% vs. 18%, respectively).
More than half of adults (58%) have never considered purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle, while nearly two in five (39%) have. Only three percent already own one.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Mercedes-Benz USA from July 9-13, 2010 among 2,242 adults ages 18 and older. Results were weighted as needed to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Donna Boland.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us - and our clients - stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. Â MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.

MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans in the US. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbsprinterusa.com.