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Vehicle selection ‘fit-for-purpose purchase’
In contrast to this, there are consumers driving high shares of highway kilometres. In this case, a vehicle that combines better comfort with good fuel economy under higher speeds might be the best option. In the cases of “off-road” type of trips, such as driving in dirty roads, soft sand, slippery roads, deep mud, ascents and descents, a crossover with all-wheel drive would be a good choice. However, all-wheel drive is correlated with different wheel and tyre specifications than for urban purposes. For example, the wheels are typically bigger, which increases the rolling resistance and deteriorates the emission performance of the vehicle. Carrying purposesThe carrying purposes may also define the suitable size of a vehicle. From a mini car to an SUV selection, the variation in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions is broad. For example, for an individual traveller, a compact car with the possibility of carrying an additional person is a good choice. A bigger car requires more fuel and therefore it costs more to use it. In the case that the consumer is planning on transporting several people, sport equipment or even children’s car seats, they should consider a mid-size passenger car or van. A car that is too small will probably create frustration and will not be the best ‘fit-for-purpose purchase’. A small car can also result in excessive pollutant emissions as the vehicle engine will operate outside of its optimum load. Charging optionsIn the case of electrified vehicles, the availability of charging points is also important. Charging infrastructure depends on local factors and can be a problem sometimes. A study showed that of the 144,000 EV charging points available across the EU in 2019, 76% of them were located in 4 just countries, in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, covering a 27% of the EU’s total surface area (ACEA, 2019). The possibility of charging at home will certainly make the user to feel more comfortable when the charging time comes. The electric range of the vehicle will also play a role in the purchasing decision, especially in areas with limited infrastructure. It is expected however that with a higher penetration of electrified vehicles this problem will be solved very soon. |
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