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.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: The reaction mechanism of electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries is discussed, different battery configurations are compared, and an in depth discussion is offered of the major issues that affect individual cellular components, along with respective strategies to alleviate these issues to enhance battery performance.
Abstract: Zinc-air batteries have attracted much attention and received revived research efforts recently due to their high energy density, which makes them a promising candidate for emerging mobile and electronic applications. Besides their high energy density, they also demonstrate other desirable characteristics, such as abundant raw materials, environmental friendliness, safety, and low cost. Here, the reaction mechanism of electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries is discussed, different battery configurations are compared, and an in depth discussion is offered of the major issues that affect individual cellular components, along with respective strategies to alleviate these issues to enhance battery performance. Additionally, a section dedicated to battery-testing techniques and corresponding recommendations for best practices are included. Finally, a general perspective on the current limitations, recent application-targeted developments, and recommended future research directions to prolong the lifespan of electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries is provided.
1,071 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship between financial incentives, charging infrastructure, and local presence of production facilities to determine the relationship of one such policy instrument (consumer financial incentives) to electric vehicle adoption.
895 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a comprehensive overview of the drivers for and barriers against consumer adoption of plug-in EVs, as well as an overview of theoretical perspectives that have been utilized for understanding consumer intentions and adoption behavior towards EVs, identifying gaps and limitations in existing research and suggest areas in which future research would be able to contribute.
Abstract: In spite of the purported positive environmental consequences of electrifying the light duty vehicle fleet, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in use is still insignificant. One reason for the modest adoption figures is that the mass acceptance of EVs to a large extent is reliant on consumers’ perception of EVs. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the drivers for and barriers against consumer adoption of plug-in EVs, as well as an overview of the theoretical perspectives that have been utilized for understanding consumer intentions and adoption behavior towards EVs. In addition, we identify gaps and limitations in existing research and suggest areas in which future research would be able to contribute.
788 citations
Cites background or methods from "Barriers to widespread adoption of ..."
...…rational behavior and have measured consumer attitudes towards EVs using different dimensions to predict consumer purchase intentions for EVs (Carley et al., 2013; Egbue and Long, 2012; Jensen et al., 2013; Krupa et al., 2014; Lieven et al., 2011; Moons and De Pelsmacker, 2012; Zhang et al., 2011)....
[...]
...…attitude in the TPB is the evaluation of positive and negative consequences of the behavior, in applying the TPB in innovation adoption behavior, mostly, attitudes toward the innovation has been in focus (i.e. Pickett-Baker and Ozaki, 2008; Moons and De Pelsmacker (2012); Egbue and Long, 2012)....
[...]
...Although some consumers might be unaware or skeptical about the possible environmental benefits of EVs, adoption of EVs are shown to be motivated by consumer’s pro-environmental attitudes, values, and beliefs in some studies (i.e. Egbue and Long, 2012; Carley et al., 2013; Krupa et al., 2014)....
[...]
...Various studies on consumer adoption of EVs have assumed that EVs are eco-innovations which have the potential to reduce the environmental problems of the transportation sector (i.e. Egbue and Long, 2012; Lane and Potter, 2007; Schuitema et al., 2013)....
[...]
...Other than range, EVs’ performance, safety, size and style have been reported as barriers to adoption in the studies of potential buyers’ intentions to adopt EVs for some potential buyers (Egbue and Long, 2012)....
[...]
03 Apr 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors set the extensive market penetration of lithium-ion battery-powered EVs as an ultimate objective and then discussed recent advances and challenges of electric automobiles, mainly focusing on critical element resources, present and future EV markets, and the cost and performance of Li-ion batteries.
Abstract: Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently the most suitable energy storage device for powering electric vehicles (EVs) owing to their attractive properties including high energy efficiency, lack of memory effect, long cycle life, high energy density and high power density. These advantages allow them to be smaller and lighter than other conventional rechargeable batteries such as lead–acid batteries, nickel–cadmium batteries (Ni–Cd) and nickel–metal hydride batteries (Ni–MH). Modern EVs, however, still suffer from performance barriers (range, charging rate, lifetime, etc.) and technological barriers (high cost, safety, reliability, etc.), limiting their widespread adoption. Given these facts, this review sets the extensive market penetration of LIB-powered EVs as an ultimate objective and then discusses recent advances and challenges of electric automobiles, mainly focusing on critical element resources, present and future EV markets, and the cost and performance of LIBs.
Finally, novel battery chemistries and technologies including high-energy electrode materials and all-solid-state batteries are also evaluated for their potential capabilities in next-generation long-range EVs.
645 citations
415 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined which motivational dimensions are underlying the (un)attractiveness of car use, in order to distinguish a limited set of main motive categories. And they found that both instrumental-reasoned and symbolic-affective functions of the motor car are significant dimensions underlying the attractiveness of car using.
Abstract: This study was aimed at clarifying the relative importance of symbolic-affective as opposed to instrumental-reasoned motives for car use. We examined which motivational dimensions are underlying the (un)attractiveness of car use, in order to distinguish a limited set of main motive categories. Three methods were developed, which differed in the extent to which the purpose of the task was apparent. The tasks were: (1) a similarity sorting of car-use episodes, (2) a Q-sorting following attractiveness of car-use episodes, and (3) a semantic-differential method for evaluating (un)attractive aspects of car use. The symbolic-affective motives for car use were better expressed when the aim of the research task was not too apparent. If the aim of the task was evident, respondents tended to evaluate car use in terms of instrumental-reasoned motives. Overall, the results indicate that both instrumental-reasoned and symbolic-affective functions of the motor car are significant dimensions underlying the attractiveness of car use.
424 citations
TL;DR: This article found no household that analyzed their fuel costs in a systematic way in their automobile or gasoline purchases, and almost none of these households track gasoline costs over time or consider them explicitly in household budgets.
376 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the symbolic meanings being created, appropriated, and communicated by the owners of hybrid electric vehicles and explored how widely recognized social meanings (denotations) are connected to more personal meanings (connotations) and the effect that both types of meanings have on vehicle purchase and use.
Abstract: This study explores the symbolic meanings being created, appropriated, and communicated by the owners of hybrid electric vehicles. As symbolic meanings are shown to be important to hybrid electric vehicle purchase and use, understanding the meanings, as well as their construction and communication, is essential for policy makers and others hoping to promote these new types of vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles embody combinations of meanings that were previously unavailable from automobiles. Market observers who fail to recognize this struggle to explain why some people buy hybrid electric vehicles. They may characterize buyers as naive about calculating payback on fuel economy, or dismiss owners as image-seeking environmentalists. This research belies such simplistic explanations. Through the telling and analysis of buyers' own stories, this study takes a robust approach to understanding the creation and spread of new symbolic meanings in the automotive market. Data were collected in ethnographic interviews with hybrid electric vehicle owners in the California, and analyzed using methods based on semiotic theory. In particular, the study explores how widely recognized social meanings (denotations) are connected to more personal meanings (connotations) and the effect that both types of meanings have on vehicle purchase and use.
354 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted extensive interviews with public utility commissioners, utility managers, system operators, manufacturers, researchers, business owners, and ordinary consumers to understand why wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric power sources are not embraced.
328 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors were given direct experience of driving a battery electric vehicle followed by an attitudinal questionnaire, and a vignette exercise to evaluate their attributions of symbolic meaning.
Abstract: Fifty-eight peoples were given direct experience of driving a battery electric vehicle followed by an attitudinal questionnaire, and a vignette exercise to evaluate their attributions of symbolic meaning. Findings suggested that some consumers might start to consider electric vehicles as second cars if they had a range of 100 miles, and as main cars if they had a range of 150 miles. They may be willing to pay modest premiums over conventional vehicles, equivalent to around three years’ running cost savings. Most would recharge at home overnight.
314 citations