Survey: Hybrids still have stronger following than pure electrics

The parade of data related to consumer interest in electric vehicles continues. This time, it is E Source, courtesy of the Nielsen Energy Survey, suggesting that 85 percent of American consumers are interested in buying a battery-driven car. But before you get all excited, the survey (which covers about 32,000 U.S. respondents) also shows that they aren't necessarily interested in buying them right this second.

In fact, only 3 percent of the survey respondents indicated they were interested in buying a plug-in electric vehicle right away; 57 percent said they would think about it when they are looking for their next car (I'm in that camp); and 25 percent said they would do it when the technology becomes more mainstream.

An even more telling data point, perhaps, is the fact that most of the survey respondents (58 percent) "strongly prefer" plug-in hybrid models. Only 8 percent "strongly prefer" all-electric vehicles.

Biggest problem: range anxiety. Another factor: age; the younger you are, the more likely you are to be interested in an electric vehicle.

So, Americans are definitely interested in decreasing their visits to the gas station. But they aren't necessarily to cut themselves off from the pump entirely, if it will any way inconvenience them. I wonder what this poll would show a month from now, when gasoline prices are likely to approach $5 per gallon.