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Abstract of article published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494422001529

Or maybe it is just so much fun to drive an EV but the buyer has to rationalize the purchase :-)

But then for one study, online panel participants didn't actually drive, they just watched a 1 minute video, and some were told it's an EV others told it's an ICE. (The photo on OP is from Getty, it was an ID.4)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494422001529

Study 1 Study 1 set out to test the effects of vehicle test drives on vehicle perceptions and adoption intent for EVs as compared to non-electric vehicles (i.e., conventional vehicles). To reduce the risks of confounds and selection bias, and allow for comparison to a control condition, the study used an experimental design whereby individuals from an online panel participated in a virtual test drive.

Study 2 Study 2 set out to test the effects of EV exposure on EV perceptions and adoption intent in a real-life environment with relatively more salient identity cues and high ecological validity—a real EV test drive. This field study ensured all participants had real exposure to an EV within a similar setting and for a similar amount of time.

So test driving leads to buying?

Yeah that part is already well researched. It’s the reason why so many products beg to be touched and tried. Subconsciously you start to take ownership.

An old tried and true sales technique is to hand the customer the item/object, start in on your pitch, then take it back while you continue talking about it. It can create a sense of loss or longing once the person starts to take that ownership and you remove it from their possession.

Sauce: 20 years ago I had one of those awful gigs selling steak knives out of a roll up bag

No...........RRRREEeeeeally????????

Boy, that “some” really makes a meaningless title even more meaningless

It's not quite that simple. In this study, the test drive reinforced a personal symbolic meaning - specifically, the test-driver's self-perception as a user of new gadgetry - and that reinforced identity was the ticket to intention to buy. The study found two other self-perceptions were not reinforced - being an environmentalist or an authority on cars. And the test drive also reinforced the prospective buyer's sense that the car would be a status symbol - but that symbolic meaning was not associated with intention to buy.

How? Most things only impact a percentage of people, and acting on this could boost sales on that Some

So moral of the story: Musk was foolish to go online only

Someone is more likely to buy a certain car after test-driving it. ok sure, I'll buy that.

Because psychobabble reasons, not so much.

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It strengthened my self-perception and boosted my identity so I bought it!

I desperately want to buy an electric car for my regular-ish long distance trips to visit family. I was even going to pay for the family member I stay with to get a charging station in their garage.

Unfortunately, the trip is at best 30 miles out of range for the vehicles I have looked into, and there really aren't any reasonable charging options along the route (and fast charging will still take quite some time to get the extra range). It's a five hour drive straight through already and I don't really relish the thought of adding even more time to it by stopping (I rarely have to stop).

I make the trip seven or eight times a year, so it's worth having a car for.

Fooking Cutco.

> the test-driver's self-perception as a user of new gadgetry

It's a shame so many people want that feeling. Too many gadgets are replaced before their time just because people feel good about wearing a "user of new gadgetry" badge.

Is there any point in this sub any more?

Simply test driving a car boosts their identity as ‘early adopters’?

I don’t want to shame anyone or discourage people from adopting EV’s but ‘early adopters’ are certainly in the rear view mirror of EV’s at this point aren’t they? Do people still feel like they are making a sacrifice by purchasing an EV?

I’ve driven an EV for over five years now though so maybe I’m woefully out of touch.

Did door to door fundraising, and this was part of the pitch. Put the tablet with our little slideshow of the nonprofit and the issues into the person’s hand, wait for them to stop swiping, and then hit them with the ask.

Problem is, most people didn’t know it was a slideshow (and the script didn’t mention it), and it’s not like they get to buy/keep it, so it really didn’t incentivize anyone to join the cause. But the higher ups definitely took their notes from Cutco and the like

You should get those missing 30 miles+ in 5-10 minutes on a fast charger. Also don’t forget that electricity will be cheaper than gas in most places. HTH

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Can they at least make these EV cars with great sound systems? Can't stand driving this if it doesn't have surround sound

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Driving an EV is such a different experience than an ICE car, it is no surprising that when someone experiences something new they might want one. Not having those gear changes results in really smooth driving/acceleration.