NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Surveys of drivers by AAA say they want new innovations in auto technology to continue.
"Nearly 80% of drivers surveyed want automakers to focus on improving fuel economy," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Obviously, with the gas prices we're seeing at the pumps now, that makes a lot of sense. We also have heard that 76% of drivers want active driving assistance systems. Things like automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, those sorts of technology."
That new tech is often available in electric cars.
"You'll see a lot of electric vehicles on our 2022 car guide," Steward said. "This year's edition, the winner of the top vehicle across all categories ended up being the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD. It earned the top overall score."
All category winners for 2022 are electric, plug-in electric hybrid, or hybrid vehicles, though it's important to note that the survey itself was scored by the Automotive Research Center (ARC) of the Automobile Club of Southern California, a member of the AAA federation of motor clubs and may not quite be ready logistically for the rural areas of Kansas.
"Electric vehicles are initially focused on cities and metro areas and major interstate thoroughfares," Steward said. "That's where the charging systems are going to be. That's going to be where the largest proliferation of electric vehicles is going to be, in the larger markets to start out with. No doubt, it's going to take a long time to get that electric network built out in our more rural areas, of which Kansas obviously, has a lot."
According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are still large areas of Kansas that do not have public charging stations, though new sites are constantly being added.