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Battery Electric Vehicles: Travel Characteristics of Early Adopters

Author

Listed:
  • Yunwen Feng

    (Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Jean-Daniel Saphores

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Hilary Nixon

    (Mineta Transportation Institute, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA)

  • Monica Ramirez Ibarra

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

Abstract

Do U.S. households with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) drive less or more than U.S. households with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)? Answering this question is important to policymakers and transportation planners concerned with reducing vehicle miles traveled and the emissions of greenhouse gases from transportation. So far, this question has not been answered satisfactorily, possibly because of the relatively low number of EVs in the U.S. until recently, but also because of methodological issues. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by analyzing data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). We apply propensity score matching (PSM), a quasi-experimental method, to examine the differences in self-reported annual mileage and calculated daily mileage for various trip purposes among households with only BEVs (BEV-only), households with both BEVs and ICEVs (BEV+), and households without BEVs (non-BEV households). Our findings indicate that households with BEVs drive fewer annual miles than non-BEV households, but typically travel no less than they do for daily activities. This apparent discrepancy is likely due to taking fewer longer trips because the public charging infrastructure was still in its infancy in 2017, and its reliability was questionable. As technological progress is helping to overcome current battery limitations, policymakers may consider measures for fostering fast charging technologies while pondering new measures to fund both the charging infrastructure and the road network.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunwen Feng & Jean-Daniel Saphores & Hilary Nixon & Monica Ramirez Ibarra, 2024. "Battery Electric Vehicles: Travel Characteristics of Early Adopters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:10:p:4263-:d:1397291
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    References listed on IDEAS

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