Battery Electric Vehicle Recharging: A Qualitative Investigation into High-End Early Adopter Attitudes

The way in which battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are recharged represents a behaviour change for consumers compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). BEVs take many hours to recharge, this is typically done with a home charge outlet, ICEVs are refuelled in a matter of minutes at a centralised refuelling station. The common conception is that BEV recharging is a shortcoming, due to long charge times, short ranges and a lack of charging infrastructure. This idea comes about from studies of BEVs with ranges of 100 miles or less, however the market now contains BEVs with ranges of more than 200 miles. This paper conducts in-depth qualitative interviews with adopters of these longer range BEVs so that light can be shed upon this issue. The findings from this study are that contrary to the existing literature BEV recharging is beneficial to adopters. This is due to consumers perceiving it as easier, quicker, more convenient and because they do not have to visit a centralised refuelling station. These benefits are only realised after adoption has occurred, therefore measures should be taken so that consumers are aware of these before adoption, and this may lead to increased uptake of BEVs.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC80 Standing Committee on Alternative Transportation Fuels and Technologies.
• Authors:
  • Hardman, Scott
  • 0000-0002-0476-7909
  • Shiu, Eric
  • Steinberger-Wilckens, Robert
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Consumer behavior; Electric vehicle charging; Electric vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Adoption models
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01659679
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-01318
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 9 2018 10:33AM