A Model of EV Adoption and Rank-Based Contributing Factors

Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the current widespread use of internal combustion engine vehicles. EV adoption has grown significantly in the past several years, due to improvements in battery technologies and EV ranges, increasing availability of public charging infrastructure and government incentives, and growing awareness and concern regarding climate change. However, EV adoption rates in the US remain relatively low, and more study is needed to understand the behavioral factors that influence EV adoption. Specifically, most existing EV adoption studies use either aggregate market share analysis or stated intentions for future adoptions rather than revealed adoption behavior at an individual level. The current study examines EV adoption using a survey of California households that includes revealed adoption behaviors as well as a ranked set of factors that led to adoption for existing EV owners. To the research team's knowledge, this is the first comprehensive modeling effort that examines the factors that lead to adoption for existing EV owners. A Generalized Heterogeneous Data Model is used to estimate these outcomes as a function of sociodemographic characteristics, local land-use characteristics, individual-level lifestyle preferences, and perceptions of EVs compared with ICEVs, while capturing jointness caused by unobserved factors. The results have important implications for transportation planners and policymakers by informing EV incentive policies, revealing the impacts of EV charging infrastructure, and identifying potential future adopters.

• Record URL:
  • https://tbd.ctr.utexas.edu/research-product/a-model-of-ev-adoption-and-rank-based-contributing-factors/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $150,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552344815

  69A3552348320

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Understanding Future of Travel Behavior and Demand

  University of Texas
  Austin, TX  United States 
• Project Managers:

  Bhat, Chandra

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Texas at Austin

  Austin, TX  United States  78712
• Principal Investigators:

  Bhat, Chandra

• Start Date: 20240601
• Expected Completion Date: 20250531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile ownership; Electric vehicles; Revealed preferences; Surveys
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01955085
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Understanding Future of Travel Behavior and Demand
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552344815, 69A3552348320
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: May 15 2025 2:48PM