Alternative Fuels: 7th (Final) Survey

* Please answer the following questions in the context of your experience with the Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV) Highlander during the last two weeks. Be sure to read each question carefully, as you will not be able to return to previous questions as you continue through the survey.

During the past two weeks, what percent of your personal trips (you as the driver) has been taken with the FCHV Highlander? (Please select one response.)

Please indicate the types of trips in which you have been the driver but intentionally did not drive the FCHV Highlander. (Please select all that apply.)

Grocery shopping trips

Local shopping errands

Taking kids to school

Going to work

Visiting local friends

Going out for entertainment (e.g., movies, restaurants, etc.)

Intraregional trips (outside your local city, within the metropolitan area)

Interregional trips (outside your metropolitan area)

Other, please specify:

How many times have you fueled the FCHV Highlander during the past two weeks? (Please select one response.)

I have not yet fueled the FCHV.

Once during the past two weeks

Twice during the past two weeks

Three times during the past two weeks

Four times during the past two weeks

More than five times during the past two weeks

Other, please specify:

Based on your observations, how would you characterize the ease of fueling the FCHV Highlander? (Please select one response.)

During the past two weeks, how often have you forgone trips with the FCHV Highlander because you did not have enough fuel, and you could not easily access a station? (Please select one response)

More than 10 times

5 to 10 times

3 to 5 times

1 to 2 times

I have not forgone any trips with the FCV Highlander because of fuel issues.

The limited availability of locations to fuel with hydrogen greatly restricted my use of the FCHV Highlander in my daily travel. (Please select one response.)

During the past two weeks, at what approximate cruising range remaining did you become concerned about not having enough fuel to complete your trips in the FCHV Highlander? (Please select one response.)

Based on your witnessing of the FCHV refueling, how long would you say it has taken to actually fuel the FCHV Highlander at the station (starting from the time the vehicle is pulled up to the pump, ending when you can drive away)? (Please select one response.)

Given your experiences with the FCHV Highlander during the past two weeks, the limited range of the FCHV is a (please select one response):

Serious limitation to using it

Moderate limitation to using it

Minor limitation to using it

Not a limitation to using it

How close have you come to emptying the vehicle before refueling? (Please select one response.)

I ran out of fuel.

I was very close to 0 cruising range miles remaining.

Within 10 cruising range miles

Within 20 cruising range miles

Within 30 cruising range miles

Within 40 cruising range miles

Within 50 cruising range miles

The tank has not fallen below half during the last two weeks.

Overall, how has the FCHV Highlander met your expectations? (Please select one response.)

Greatly exceeded my expectations

Exceeded my expectations

Met my expectations

Slightly disappointed

Greatly disappointed

Based on your experience so far with the hydrogen vehicle, what is your perception of the safety of hydrogen as a fuel? (Please select one response.)

Much safer than gasoline

Safer than gasoline

About as safe as gasoline

Less safe than gasoline

Much less safe than gasoline

Based on your experience so far with hydrogen vehicle fueling, what are your perceptions of hydrogen fueling safety? (Please select one response.)

Much safer than gasoline

Safer than gasoline

About as safe as gasoline

Less safe than gasoline

Much less safe than gasoline

The limited availability of hydrogen infrastructure would greatly impact my decision to purchase a FCHV Highlander for my daily travel. (Please select one response.)

The ability to use the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane with an FCHV Highlander would greatly impact my decision to purchase a FCHV for my daily travel. (Please select one response.)

I would value a $2,000 tax credit for an FCHV Highlander purchase that I would receive when I filed my taxes about the same as I would value a $2,000 dealer rebate given when I purchased the vehicle. (Please select one response.)

* By now, you have driven three vehicles that use some of the most advanced electric drivetrain technologies available. If you could choose only one to own, assuming they all cost about the same to purchase and fuel, which one would it be? (Please select one response.)

Gasoline-electric Hybrid Prius (1st car I drove)

The plug-in hybrid electric Prius (2nd car I drove)

The fuel cell powered Highlander (3rd car I drove)

If hydrogen stations had been more abundant (say to the level of gasoline) would this have changed your opinion to prefer the FCHV Highlander?

Yes, in that case I would have preferred the FCHV Highlander

No, it would not affect my preference.

If hydrogen stations had been more abundant (say to the level of gasoline) would this have changed your opinion to prefer the FCHV Highlander?

Yes, in that case I would have preferred the FCHV Highlander

No, it would not affect my preference.

Would you prefer your selection over a new version of the vehicle that you own today? (Please select one response.)

Definitely would

Probably would

Probably would not

Definitely would not

* In general, have you preferred driving your current car over all three test vehicles?

Do you believe that the PHEV Prius saved you money in terms of reduced overall fuel costs (i.e., gasoline plus electricity)? (Please select one response.)

I am sure it did.

It probably did.

I am not sure there was much overall change.

I think it may have cost more money for overall fuel.

I am sure that it did cost more money for overall fuel.

Overall, do you think that the advantages of plugging-in the vehicle outweigh the inconveniences?

Yes

Are there any modifications that could be made that would make plugging-in the car more convenient? (For example, a different cord length, etc.)

Yes

In answering the following question, assume three things:

1. Both the FCHV Highlander and the PHEV Prius reduce environmental impacts by about the same amount over the traditional hybrid Prius.

2. Both the FCHV Highlander and the PHEV Prius cost the same to purchase ($5,000 more than the traditional hybrid Prius), and all three vehicles cost the same to operate.

3. Hydrogen is available at almost every gas station.

Which vehicle would you prefer to use?

The FCHV Highlander

The PHEV Prius

The gasoline hybrid electric (traditional) Prius

Does your regular vehicle have an HOV lane sticker?

Yes

Based on your experience and use (or lack of use) with the HOV lane sticker, how would you value it? Imagine that you are considering the purchase of a vehicle that you absolutely want to buy. Two owners are selling used versions of this vehicle. Each vehicle is only a few months old and each has less than 500 miles on it. The previous owners took good care of each of them, and they are essentially the same (desired color and all).

One owner was lucky and able to get an HOV lane access sticker before the state-established maximum quota was reached. The other owner was late and could not get the sticker.

Would you buy the stickered vehicle if it was $5,000 more than the vehicle without the sticker?

Yes

Would you buy the stickered vehicle if it was $4,000 more than the vehicle without the sticker?

Yes

Would you buy the stickered vehicle if it was $3,000 more than the vehicle without the sticker?

Yes

Would you buy the stickered vehicle if it was $2,000 more than the vehicle without the sticker?

Yes

Would you buy the stickered vehicle if it was $1,000 more than the vehicle without the sticker?

Yes

Would you buy the stickered vehicle if it was $500 more than the vehicle without the sticker?

Yes

Would you buy the stickered vehicle if it was the same price as the vehicle without the sticker?

Yes

During the course of the survey, you were asked several questions about price differentials that you might be willing to pay under certain conditions. Were these questions well understood? (Please select best response.)

The questions were clear the first time I read them.

I had to contact a researcher for further assistance to ensure that I understood the question.

I had to read some of them a few times before I understood them, and then it was fine.

I found the question to be unclear, but I think I understood them.

I was totally confused by the "price differential" questions.