Volkswagen Ireland has launched a new website called CarExplainer.ie. The purpose behind the new site is to clear the fog of confusion that many buyers currently experience when trying to choose between the various new types of powertrain on offer.
A majority think that diesel produces more carbon emissions
According to Volkswagen's research, 67 per cent of Irish drivers incorrectly believe that a diesel car emits more CO2 than an equivalent petrol one. Nearly 33 per cent of Irish driver mistakenly believe that a full hybrid car has zero emissions, while almost half (44 per cent) of Irish drivers believe that electric cars produce some emissions while they are driving.
Meanwhile, of the 550 Irish drivers polled by VW, more than 70 per cent of Irish drivers believe there are fewer than 500 electric car charging points in Ireland.
Let's take those misnomers one by one, shall we? No they don't. No, they don't. No, they don't (but the electricity they use causes carbon emissions, of course). And there are more that 1,500, in fact. Happily for VW's purposes, 68 per cent of Irish drivers would like a website that explains the difference between the different engine/fuel types available in Ireland.
Fall in car sales partly down to confusion
Volkswagen claims that much of the six per cent fall in the Irish new car market seen so far this year is attributable to buyer confusion over the differences between petrol, diesel, hybrid, and battery-powered cars, and that the CarExplainer website can help to alleviate this.
"It is clear from the survey findings and from what our retailers are hearing on the forecourts that the general public is quite confused. They are confused about the differences between the engine technology, be it petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric, but they also don't know which technology suits their needs. We aimed to explain as clearly as possible the differences between all of these," said Volkswagen Ireland Head of Marketing, Mark McGrath.
Promotional tool for VW's range and PCP options
The site walks buyers through the differences between the various types of powertrain, and invites them to both consult an FAQ and submit specific questions if they have one. Needless to say, because there's no such thing as a free lunch, Volkswagen will be using the site to promote its own model lineup - which it says encompasses everything from conventional petrol and diesel, to mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric - as well as promoting its PCP finance packages, which the company claims can insulate buyers from the risk of making a 'wrong' decision when it comes to picking their car.
It would be remiss of us not to remind you that if you have any questions, you can always pop them over to us on our CompleteCar.ie Ask Us Anything page.