Who’s Driving Electric Cars: Understanding Consumer Adoption and Use of Plug-in Electric Cars

Description

This book offers a comprehensive yet accessible snapshot of the latest consumer research on the adoption and use of electric vehicles. It discusses the importance of developing a better understanding of consumer behavior in relation to electric vehicles, and the advantages that can be gained from the growing number of electric vehicle users, who can now be studied directly. In turn, it systematically analyzes the leading markets for electric vehicles in North America, Europe and Asia. Bringing together the experience and expertise of authoritative researchers and practicing professionals, the book shares a wide range of empirical data obtained at the national level and summarizes the general lessons learned. The last part of the book discusses policy-relevant insights, forecasts the future evolution of the field in terms of methods and data availability, and addresses several key questions that policymakers and other stakeholders are currently facing. Foreword Acknowledgements Contents Introduction: Understanding the Development of the Market for Electric Vehicles • Marcello Contestabile and Thomas Turrentine Why This Book Who It Is for What It Covers North America Electric Cars in California: Policy and Behavior Perspectives • Gil Tal, Ken Kurani, Alan Jenn, Debapriya Chakraborty, Scott Hardman and Dahlia Garas The Evolution of PEV Policy in California and the US The Genesis of the ZEV Mandate Development of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Actors Supporting the PEV Market Policy Evolution Post ZEV Mandate Selected Studies of the PEV Market in California Who Is Buying Electric Vehicles in California? Understanding the Effect of Electric Vehicle Incentives Demand Drivers for Plug-in Vehicle Charging Infrastructure References What Conversations Between PEV Owners and Owners of Non-PEVs in California Tell Us About Sustaining a Transition • Ken Kurani Plug-in Electric Vehicle Market Growth? A Failure to Instigate Broader Consumer Engagement with PEVs Is a Barrier to Continued Market Growth Can PEV Owners Help Accelerate PEV Market Growth? General Approach Workshop Results PEV Costs PEV Charging Infrastructure Overall Responses of Non-PEV Owners: Learning the Signs of PEVs Discussion Conclusions References Gasoline Savings from Electric Vehicles in the US • Tamara L. Sheldon and Rubal Dua Introduction Background Data Vehicle Choice Model Counterfactual Analysis Fuel Savings from PEV Adoption Incentives Caveat: CAFE/GHG Standards Caveat: The Rebound Effect Conclusion References The Present and Future Market for PEVs in Canada: Evidence from a Mixed-Method Research Program • Jonn Axsen and Zoe Long Introduction Rationale for a Reflexive, Mixed-Method Research Approach Overview of the Research Program The Case of Canada: PEV Sales and Policy Qualitative Results: Semi-structured Interviews with Pioneers and Mainstream Consumers Insights from PEV Pioneers Insights from Mainstream Consumers Quantitative Results: Large-Scale Surveys with Mainstream Consumers Modeling Results: Simulating PEV Sales in the Real-World with the REPAC Model Informing Policy Evaluation: The PEV Policy Report Card Conclusions References Europe Norway—The World Leader in BEV Adoption • Erik Figenbaum Introduction Data Sources—Consumer Adoption of BEVs Favorable Conditions, but Rough Winters A Multi-level Perspective on BEV Adoption Theoretical Approach and Main Results Local Testing and Industrialization Efforts—1990 to 1999 Optimism, Dismay and Renewed Hope—2000 to 2009 The Modern BEV Jump Starts the Market—2010 to 2018 ICEV Regime Exploiting the Window of Opportunity Extreme Incentives Give Extreme Results Experiences and Opportunities with BEVs Plugging into the Electric Future Relation to Other Societal Targets Extreme Outlier or a Lab to Learn from? References Plug-in (Hybrid) Electric Vehicle Adoption in the Netherlands: Lessons Learned • RickWolbertus and Robert van den Hoed Introduction Dutch Context on E-mobility Purchase Incentive Scheme Electric Vehicle Sales Roll-Out of Charging Infrastructure Effectiveness of PEV Adoption Support Policies Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Utilizaton Secondary Effects Charging Infrastructure Utilization Utilization Rate Conclusions and Recommendations References What Can Driving Patterns Reveal About the Suitability of PEVs in Sweden? Analysis and Policy Implications • Frances Sprei Introduction Swedish Incentives Related to PEVs Methods and Data Used Lessons Learned from Flex-Fuel Vehicles How Well Suited are BEVs for Swedish Consumers and Their Driving Patterns? Driving Patterns Economic Viability Looking Closer at Two-Car Households Comparing the First and Second Car of a Household The Role of Flexibility How Do Two-Car Households Use a BEV? Conclusions References Beyond Consumer Innovators: Adoption of Plug-in Vehicles by Mainstream Consumers in the U.K. • Stephen Skippon and George Beard Introduction The Importance of Mainstream Consumer PEV Adoption Who Are Mainstream Consumers? The Problem of Psychological Distance The Problem of the Hawthorne Effect The Influence of Symbolism and Self-congruity The Bed of Procrustes Understanding Mainstream Consumers’ Own Perspectives: Findings from Qualitative Research Cost Minimization Vehicle Confidence Vehicle Adaptation Demands Environmental Beliefs Impression Management PEVs as a Work in Progress A 2019 Perspective on Graham-Rowe et al.’s Qualitative Research Measuring Mainstream Consumers’ Likelihood to Adopt a BEV After Direct Experience of Using One Willingness to Consider Having a BEV Symbolic Meaning and Self-congruity What Have We Learned? Where Next? References Electric Vehicle Adoption in Germany: Current Knowledge and Future Research • Patrick Plötz and Elisabeth Dütschke Introduction The German Car Market and Automotive Industry Chapter Overview The Current State of PEV Adoption PEV Market Overview Private PEV Users Fleet PEV Users Company Car PEV Users PEV Usage Annual Vehicle Kilometers Travelled Electric Driving of PHEVs User Experience with PEVs Drivers and Barriers to PEV Adoption Barriers and Drivers by User Group Charging Infrastructure Policies Recommendations for Future Research Market Diffusion Next Adopters Freight Vehicles Other Technologies and Mobility Services References China China’s Booming Plug-in Electric Vehicle Market—How Will It Continue? • Shiqi Ou, Zhenhong Lin, Xin He, Steven Przesmitzki, Zhixin Wu, Jihu Zheng, Renzhi Lv and Liang Qi Introduction—Recent Fast Growth China’s PEV Market Is Growing Rapidly Will It Continue? Chapter Structure Policy Has Been the Biggest Driver Government Policy Phases Monetary Incentives—Purchase Subsidies Nonmonetary Incentives Vehicle License Plate Registration Privilege Dual-Credit Policy Market Dynamics Simulated by NEOCC Local Government Incentives Monetary Incentives from Local Governments Other Local Government Incentives Consumer Concerns in China’s PEV Market BEV Range Anxiety Charging Infrastructure Ownership Costs of Home-Charging Battery Performance Market Competition—Who Wins the Consumers? Conclusions References Plug-in Electric Vehicle Market Research on Consumer in Six Cities in China • Yan Xing, Gil Tal and Yunshi Wang Introduction Conceptual Model and Literature Review Conceptual Model Policy Background Literature on Factors Associated with PEV Adoption Methodology Survey Sampling and Administration Analytical Methods Results Summary of the Survey from Six Cities Model Results of Explanatory Analysis Findings from Qualitative Analysis Summary and Conclusions References Conclusions Lessons Learned and Future Prospects • Marcello Contestabile What Have We Learned? Who Has Already Adopted PEVs? What Is Keeping Others From Adopting PEVs? How Long Does the Range of a BEV Need to Be? How Important Is Public Charging Infrastructure? Are PHEVs Important for Achieving High Levels of PEV Penetration? To What Extent Are PHEVs Really Driven on Electricity? How Easily Can Leading Markets Be Replicated? How Long Do Governments Need to Incentivise PEVs? What Next?