Bulgarians Not at All Interested in EVs. Surprised?

The electric vehicle market is booming in certain parts of the world, while in some other, it doesn't even exist. Bulgaria is probably the best example, as the country has recently received its first two electric cars, Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero. But only a few Bulgarians actually plan to buy one of the two, not only because the economic climate in the country isn't quite encouraging for the green auto sector, but also because they are relatively expensive.

A report by The Sofia Echo reveals that Bulgarian authorities are offering absolutely no incentive to those who opt for an electric ride, although organizations in the country are asking for such subsidies.

Kiril Sandov, manager of Automotor Corporation, Citroen's representative in Bulgaria, told the aforementioned source that state authorities should begin offering special incentives to green car buyers as soon as possible, regardless if they come in the form of purchase incentives, free parking cards or other bonuses.

2011 is after all a test year for the electric vehicle market, according to a report by Pike Research, as the customers are still trying to get used to the idea of driving a battery-powered vehicle.

“The automotive industry is bedeviled by fundamental questions of how consumers will accept and use electric vehicles,” said senior analyst John Gartner. “These questions can only be answered through real-world experience that is gained from commercial launches. 2011 is the year in which many of these answers will come into greater focus.”