Barriers to widespread adoption of electric vehicles: An analysis of consumer attitudes and perceptions
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify potential socio-technical barriers to consumer adoption of EVs and determine if sustainability issues influence consumer decision to purchase an EV, and provide valuable insights into preferences and perceptions of technology enthusiasts; individuals highly connected to technology development and better equipped to sort out the many differences between EVs and CVs.
About: This article is published in Energy Policy.The article was published on 2012-09-01. It has received 1207 citations till now.
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21 Aug 2016
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore consumer consideration and design response in the wake of a product scandal, namely the Volkswagen "clean diesel" scandal, with a linked market consideration and engineering model.
Abstract: This paper explores consumer consideration and design response in the wake of a product scandal, namely the Volkswagen "clean diesel" scandal. It offers the novel contribution of designing for consideration, rather than final choice, with a linked market consideration and engineering model. The paper demonstrates how consideration modeling can be used to identify design strategy that capture lost consideration. A simulation study investigates three response design strategies: a design refresh by competitors; repricing by VW; and a new design by VW. The model used to investigate these scenarios includes data from a nation-wide survey conducted by Autolist that collected self-reported ratings of both VW and diesel consideration before and after the scandal. It also includes an engineering model that translates engineering variables (such as engine bore) into vehicle design attributes (such as fuel economy and rollover score). The case study finds that a design refresh by a competitor or a new vehicle design by VW can capture more consideration sets than a VW repricing strategy alone, suggesting the importance of coordinating both design and economic strategies. The approach demonstrates the usefulness of design-forconsideration as a strategic before/after scenario analysis tool in the wake of an event that triggers shifts consumers' considerations.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors conducted an exploratory survey among 134 sustainability experts from 5 circular and bio-economy networks, mainly from Germany, to identify products specifically requiring four types of sustainability information, and unveil needs for software that recommends sustainable products.
Abstract: The diffusion of sustainable products is a global objective, particularly reflected by the UN’s vision of ensuring sustainable development. Mobilising the potential of product information’s digitalization is an important topic in this context, particularly in the EU’s circular economy plan CEAP. Cross-sector analyses on the need for digital sustainability recommendation systems and related product-specific requirements do not yet exist. Questions: This article aims to deepen the insight of information requirements and recommendation software to facilitate sustainability-oriented product decisions based on three questions: (1) to identify products specifically requiring four types of sustainability information, (2) to unveil needs for software that recommends sustainable products, and (3) to specify the information it shall provide. Method: As part of the ConCirMy recommendation system project, we conducted an exploratory survey among 134 sustainability experts from 5 circular and bio-economy networks, mainly from Germany. The results show priority products regarding four sustainability information needs and recommendation software, making specific relations between European regulation and stakeholders’ interests visible. In addition, ten factors influencing these needs and facilitating further product-related sustainability classifications were unveiled. Conclusions: Our findings reflect the significance of CEAP’s priority products regarding the need for sustainability information and provide conclusions for four target groups.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors explored the willingness to adopt electric motorcycles among ride-hailing drivers by specifying the preference for buying or renting in adopting electric motorcycles using a stated preference method.
Abstract: Recently, the Indonesian government has been increasingly encouraging the population to utilize electric vehicles. In the public transportation sector, including ride-hailing services, the use of electric vehicles, especially motorcycles, is promoted. This study aims to explore the willingness to adopt electric motorcycles among ride-hailing drivers by specifying the preference for buying or renting in adopting electric motorcycles. Using a stated preference method, an interview survey was conducted on 416 ride-hailing drivers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Nine variables were tested to understand the determinants of electric motorcycle adoption, including purchase or rental costs, cost for motorcycle title transfer, fuel price, maximum coverage distance, maximum speed, the distance between battery exchange stations, annual tax, and credit payment. By using the ordered logit model, the results revealed two variables affecting the purchase of electric motorcycles: purchase price and maximum coverage distance. Meanwhile, four variables significantly influenced the determination of electric motorcycle rental: coverage distance, fuel price, rental fees, and the distance between battery exchange stations. Sociodemographic variables also significantly affect the decision to rent but not purchase electric motorcycles. Meanwhile, full-time drivers and students who work part-time as drivers are more likely to rent electric motorcycles. This study also found that renting electric motorcycles had a better likelihood of adoption than owning them. Finally, several policies were proposed to boost the adoption of electric motorcycles among ride-hailing drivers, including subsidy provisions, technology improvement, and priority provisions for drivers who use electric motorcycles.
2 citations
Dissertation•
01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: In this article, a semi-structured interviews with eight prospective electric vehicle users were conducted, which contained an information update about the current state of the art charging technology and EV purchase intentions.
Abstract: The charging process and –requirements of electric vehicles (EV) pose major barriers for adoption among the majority of prospective users. In order to estimate whether EV charging is a factual or rather a perceived barrier for adoption among the early and late majority of users, semi-structured interviews with eight prospective EV users were conducted, which contained an information update about the current state of the art charging technology. The persona technique by Acuna et al. (2012) was applied to ascertain user-requirements towards the charging process and –environment in order to minimize charging-related barriers and facilitate widespread EV adoption in the future. Two user personas were synthesized which represent different mobility needs, levels of charging-related knowledge, perceived charging inconvenience, other perceived barriers and EV purchase intentions. By updating user’s knowledge about charging, the perceived inconvenience of charging decreased while purchase intentions remained unchanged. Possible user-centered design solutions like cost-conversion apps or strategically placed information presentation to further decrease perceived inconvenience and facilitate EV adoption among prospective users are presented in the discussion.
2 citations
Cites background from "Barriers to widespread adoption of ..."
...These questions were based on the review of scientific articles which showed that users differ in knowledge and opinions about EV’s, and that those factors in turn have an influence on perception of EV’s as well as purchasing intention (Egbue & Long, 2012)....
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...This means that EV users currently need to adapt to the new type of vehicle and give up some of the conveniences which are given for CEV users, because EVs do not provide the same level of convenience and usability which CEVs do (Egbue & Long, 2012)....
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01 Oct 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored a broad set of variables including electricity consumption choices, participation in energy-efficiency programs, and demographic characteristics to explore the relationships between plug-in electric vehicle adoption and potentially influential factors.
Abstract: Despite a noteworthy uptake of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEV s) in a short time frame and governmental strategies to encourage use, the adoption of PEV s is still a challenge. This study views the adoption of PEVs as one pathway towards more sustainable transportation and lower Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and explores demographic factors that can be attributed to household-level PEV adoption. An aim of this study is to estimate nationwide adoption patterns in the U.S. and explore public sector strategies and innovation policies to accelerate PEV adoption. Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis is applied to the 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) dataset. The model explored a broad set of variables including electricity consumption choices, participation in energy-efficiency programs, and demographic characteristics to explore the relationships between PEV adoption and potentially influential factors. Findings indicated that PEV adoption is correlated with a household's income level, the use of home solar technology, and the electricity consumption from backup generator. A better understanding of individual adopter characteristics that are correlated with PEV adoption can inform policy for optimizing feasible strategies to accelerate PEV adoption in the U.S. Keywords: Plug-in Electric Vehicle Adoption, RECS, Demographic characteristics
2 citations
Cites background from "Barriers to widespread adoption of ..."
...19 Pro-environmental Behavior 20 Many researchers have studied the intention of consumers considering their purchase of environmental21 friendly cars (32, 57, 58)....
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...45 From the market side, one of the main reasons is the relatively low acceptance by consumers and the fact 46 that most consumers tend to resist new technologies that are alien or unproven (31, 32)....
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...However, the demographic factors are often less important to consumers than 33 technological factors, such as vehicle cost and performance (32)....
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References
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TL;DR: Ajzen, 1985, 1987, this article reviewed the theory of planned behavior and some unresolved issues and concluded that the theory is well supported by empirical evidence and that intention to perform behaviors of different kinds can be predicted with high accuracy from attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control; and these intentions, together with perceptions of behavioral control, account for considerable variance in actual behavior.
65,095 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report results of two questionnaire studies aimed at examining various motives for car use, and investigate individual differences in the relative importance of the three categories of motives were investigated.
Abstract: This paper reports results of two questionnaire studies aimed at examining various motives for car use. In the first study, a random selection of 185 respondents who possess a driving licence were interviewed. Respondents were recruited from the cities of Groningen and Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The sample of the second study comprised a random selection of 113 commuters who regularly travelled during rush hours in and around Rotterdam, a region in the west of the Netherlands. First, it was examined which categories of car use motives may be distinguished. As proposed by Dittmar’s (1992) [The social psychology of material possessions: to have is to be. Havester Wheatsheaf, Hemel Hempstead, UK; St. Martin’s Press, New York] model on the meaning of material possessions, results from both studies revealed that car use not only fulfils instrumental functions, but also important symbolic and affective functions. Second, it was studied to what extent these different motives are related to the level of car use. From the results of study 2, it appeared that commuter car use was most strongly related to symbolic and affective motives, and not to instrumental motives. Third, individual differences in the relative importance of the three categories of motives were investigated. In both studies, most group differences were found in the evaluation of the symbolic and affective motives (and not the instrumental ones). Especially frequent drivers, respondents with a positive car attitude, male and younger respondents valued these non-instrumental motives for car use. These results suggest that policy makers should not exclusively focus on instrumental motives for car use, but they should consider the many social and affective motives as well.
1,064 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the relative efficacy of state sales tax waivers, income tax credits and non-tax incentives for hybrid-electric vehicle adoption in the United States has been studied and shown that the type of tax incentive offered is as important as the value of the tax incentive.
Abstract: Federal, state and local governments use a variety of incentives to induce consumer adoption of hybrid-electric vehicles. We study the relative efficacy of state sales tax waivers, income tax credits and non-tax incentives and find that the type of tax incentive offered is as important as the value of the tax incentive. Conditional on value, we find that sales tax waivers are associated a seven-fold greater increase in hybrid sales than income tax credits. In addition, we estimate the extent to which consumer adoption of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV) in the United States from 2000-2006 can be attributed to government incentives, changing gasoline prices, or consumer preferences for environmental quality or energy security. After controlling for model specific state and time trends, we find that rising gasoline prices are associated with higher hybrid sales, although the effect operates entirely through sales of the hybrid models with the highest fuel economy. In total, we find that tax incentives, rising gasoline prices and social preferences are associated with 6, 27 and 36 percent of high economy hybrid sales from 2000-2006.
595 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore both the promise and the possible pitfalls of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) concept, focusing first on its definition and then on its technical state-of-the-art.
551 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a full year of high-resolution driving data from 484 instrumented gasoline vehicles in the US is used to analyze daily driving patterns, and from those infer the range requirements of electric vehicles (EVs).
Abstract: One full year of high-resolution driving data from 484 instrumented gasoline vehicles in the US is used to analyze daily driving patterns, and from those infer the range requirements of electric vehicles (EVs). We conservatively assume that EV drivers would not change their current gasoline-fueled driving patterns and that they would charge only once daily, typically at home overnight. Next, the market is segmented into those drivers for whom a limited-range vehicle would meet every day’s range need, and those who could meet their daily range need only if they make adaptations on some days. Adaptations, for example, could mean they have to either recharge during the day, borrow a liquid-fueled vehicle, or save some errands for the subsequent day. From this analysis, with the stated assumptions, we infer the potential market share for limited-range vehicles. For example, we find that 9% of the vehicles in the sample never exceeded 100 miles in one day, and 21% never exceeded 150 miles in one day. These drivers presumably could substitute a limited-range vehicle, like electric vehicles now on the market, for their current gasoline vehicle without any adaptation in their driving at all. For drivers who are willing to make adaptations on 2 days a year, the same 100 mile range EV would meet the needs of 17% of drivers, and if they are willing to adapt every other month (six times a year), it would work for 32% of drivers. Thus, it appears that even modest electric vehicles with today’s limited battery range, if marketed correctly to segments with appropriate driving behavior, comprise a large enough market for substantial vehicle sales. An additional analysis examines driving versus parking by time of day. On the average weekday at 5 pm, only 15% of the vehicles in the sample are on the road; at no time during the year are fewer than 75% of vehicles parked. Also, because the return trip home is widely spread in time, even if all cars plug in and begin charging immediately when they arrive home and park, the increased demand on the electric system is less problematic than prior analyses have suggested.
541 citations