Plug-in electric vehicles may just be entering the market, but most U.S. consumers are ready to buy them. E Source recently analyzed data from the Nielsen Energy Survey and found that 85 percent of U.S. consumers say they would purchase a battery-driven car either right away (3 percent), when their current car needed replacement (57 percent), or when the technology is proven and it becomes more mainstream (25 percent). The caveat is that consumers strongly prefer (58 percent) plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) versions such as the Chevrolet Volt. PHEVs have greater range than electric-only cars like the Nissan Leaf and only 8 percent of consumers prefer them. "We are seeing a substantial willingness for drivers to move to plug-in electric vehicles, but only if the manufacturers can provide the easy extended range of travel that Americans are used to," says Bill LeBlanc, senior advisor at E Source.

E Source also reports that younger drivers are more willing than older drivers to purchase the electric-only cars, and people who describe themselves as liberals are similarly more inclined to desire the all-electric cars than those classified as conservatives. "We see that all ages and all political mindsets like the plug-in hybrid vehicles equally," says LeBlanc. "But when it comes to the all-electric car, it appears to be seen as more of a 'green' purchase, rather than as a practical upgrade to a more-efficient vehicle."

Another factor that E Source looked at was how far people drive each day and how that affects their desire for a plug-in electric vehicle. Daily driving habits don't seem to affect desire for the all-electric vehicle; however, desire for the PHEV grows as people spend more time in their cars. "Overall, the survey supports the existence of a huge untapped market for electric vehicles that can be charged at night at home. People seem very ready to move to the next generation of cars and dramatically decrease the frequency of their visits to the gas station," reports LeBlanc.

Applications Due August 31st

You can help your local secondary and/or post-secondary collision program receive a $50,000 Makeover through the Collision Repair Education Foundation's 2011 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant. The application is available to download online and must be postmarked by August 31, 2011.

The winning school will be announced during SEMA 2011. Instructors are advised to begin the application early due to the required application information. Important Notes Regardless if your local school/college's auto body program wins the $50,000 Makeover grant, those schools that apply for the 2011 Makeover grant are the initial schools that the Foundation goes to when it receives in-kind product and monetary donations throughout the year.

In 2009, the non-winning Makeover grant applicant schools received close to $200,000 in product donation. Yes, the non-winners! Through the Makeover's application, the schools must list an itemized $50,000 wish list and through these lists, the Foundation can seek out industry supporters to donate these requested items for the schools.

Over 50 schools from across the country applied for the 2010 Makeover grant. The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant debuted in 2009 when Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School (Jefferson Hills, PA) was chosen as the recipient of the award. In addition to Steel Center AVTS receiving $80,000 from the award, the schools that applied for the 2009 grant still benefited from the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover program.

In total, the 35 schools each received an average of $5,000 in products, supplies, and equipment for a total value over $175,000. Every school that applied for the grant received at least one item to benefit their students and collision program.

In 2010, the award went to Bridgerland Applied Technology College (Logan, UT). The 2010 applicants have already had the opportunity to receive items from Airgas, Fibre-Glass Evercoat, Sherwin-Williams, UltraWiz, as well as Cintas technician shirts.

With the generous support from the industry, the Education Foundation is looking to at least double the total support from 2009 to 2010 for schools that applied for the grant. The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant and other collision student and school support opportunities provided by the Collision Repair Education Foundation are made possible through industry donations. If you are interested in getting involved with the Foundation and joining its efforts to support the future of the collision industry, please contact Foundation Associate Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244.