IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p2810-d1617774.html

Adoption and Use of Battery Electric Vehicles Among Older Drivers: A Review and Research Recommendations

Author

Listed:
  • David W. Eby

    (Behavioral Sciences Group, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), College of Engineering, University of Michigan, 2901 Baxter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Renée M. St. Louis

    (Behavioral Sciences Group, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), College of Engineering, University of Michigan, 2901 Baxter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Jennifer S. Zakrajsek

    (Behavioral Sciences Group, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), College of Engineering, University of Michigan, 2901 Baxter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Nicole Zanier

    (Behavioral Sciences Group, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), College of Engineering, University of Michigan, 2901 Baxter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

Abstract

In the United States, transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with passenger vehicles accounting for the majority. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) offer a significant opportunity to reduce emissions, as they have fewer emissions related to electricity generation compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. However, the benefits of BEVs are limited by their low adoption rates, particularly among older adults. In 2023, only 9.3% of vehicles on US roads were electric, and older adults (age 65 and above) have the lowest ownership and least interest in purchasing electric vehicles. This review aimed to understand the empirical data on the adoption and use of BEVs among older drivers, identify research gaps, and provide a research agenda to promote BEV use among this demographic for a more sustainable future. The review found that older drivers possess unique perceptions, often seeing more environmental benefits and fewer cost-related barriers than younger drivers, but concerns about charging infrastructure remain a significant obstacle. Notably, there is limited detailed research specific to older adults’ use patterns, charging behaviors, and the potential influence of socioeconomic factors. Future research should consider more nuanced age definitions, mixed-method approaches, and real-world behavioral studies over extended periods. A concerted effort toward understanding and addressing these barriers can inform strategies to increase BEV adoption among older adults, contributing to broader environmental goals. The review proposes a research agenda focused on understanding older adults’ adoption decisions, driving and charging behaviors, and effective training methods to facilitate BEV use.

Suggested Citation

  • David W. Eby & Renée M. St. Louis & Jennifer S. Zakrajsek & Nicole Zanier, 2025. "Adoption and Use of Battery Electric Vehicles Among Older Drivers: A Review and Research Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2810-:d:1617774
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2810/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2810/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fred D. Davis & Richard P. Bagozzi & Paul R. Warshaw, 1989. "User Acceptance of Computer Technology: A Comparison of Two Theoretical Models," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(8), pages 982-1003, August.
    2. Meng, Yihao & Zou, Yuan & Ji, Chengda & Zhai, Jianyang & Zhang, Xudong & Zhang, Zhaolong, 2024. "Data-driven electric vehicle usage and charging analysis of logistics vehicle in Shenzhen, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    3. Plötz, Patrick & Schneider, Uta & Globisch, Joachim & Dütschke, Elisabeth, 2014. "Who will buy electric vehicles? Identifying early adopters in Germany," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 96-109.
    4. Vassileva, Iana & Campillo, Javier, 2017. "Adoption barriers for electric vehicles: Experiences from early adopters in Sweden," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 632-641.
    5. Madhusudhan Adhikari & Laxman Prasad Ghimire & Yeonbae Kim & Prakash Aryal & Sundar Bahadur Khadka, 2020. "Identification and Analysis of Barriers against Electric Vehicle Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Yang, Anni & Liu, Chenhui & Yang, Di & Lu, Chaoru, 2023. "Electric vehicle adoption in a mature market: A case study of Norway," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Peng, Ruoqing & Tang, Justin Hayse Chiwing G. & Yang, Xiong & Meng, Meng & Zhang, Jie & Zhuge, Chengxiang, 2024. "Investigating the factors influencing the electric vehicle market share: A comparative study of the European Union and United States," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    2. Zhang, Linlin & van Lierop, Dea & Ettema, Dick, 2025. "Electrifying: What factors drive the transition toward electric vehicle adoption in the Netherlands?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 242-259.
    3. Baresch, Martin & Moser, Simon, 2019. "Allocation of e-car charging: Assessing the utilization of charging infrastructures by location," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 388-395.
    4. Jia, Wenjian & Jiang, Zhiqiu & Wang, Qian & Xu, Bin & Xiao, Mei, 2023. "Preferences for zero-emission vehicle attributes: Comparing early adopters with mainstream consumers in California," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 21-32.
    5. Shuping Wu & Zan Yang, 2020. "Availability of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Pile and Development of Electric Vehicle: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-14, August.
    6. Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo, 2019. "Who will buy electric vehicles after early adopters? Using machine learning to identify the electric vehicle mainstream market," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 243-254.
    7. Guo, Yuntao & Souders, Dustin & Labi, Samuel & Peeta, Srinivas & Benedyk, Irina & Li, Yujie, 2021. "Paving the way for autonomous Vehicles: Understanding autonomous vehicle adoption and vehicle fuel choice under user heterogeneity," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 364-398.
    8. Caulfield, Brian & Furszyfer, Dylan & Stefaniec, Agnieszka & Foley, Aoife, 2022. "Measuring the equity impacts of government subsidies for electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    9. Sun, Ka Kit & He, Sylvia Y. & Thøgersen, John, 2022. "The purchase intention of electric vehicles in Hong Kong, a high-density Asian context, and main differences from a Nordic context," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 98-112.
    10. Hasan, Saiful & Simsekoglu, Özlem, 2020. "The role of psychological factors on vehicle kilometer travelled (VKT) for battery electric vehicle (BEV) users," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    11. Roemer, Ellen & Henseler, Jörg, 2022. "The dynamics of electric vehicle acceptance in corporate fleets: Evidence from Germany," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    12. Mohammadreza Zolfagharian & Bob Walrave & A. Georges L. Romme & Rob Raven, 2020. "Toward the Dynamic Modeling of Transition Problems: The Case of Electric Mobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-23, December.
    13. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Axsen, Jonn, 2018. "Functional, symbolic and societal frames for automobility: Implications for sustainability transitions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 730-746.
    14. Tanveer, Arsalan & Song, Huaming & Daud, Abdul & Irfan, Muhammad & Faheem, Muhammad, 2025. "Identification and prioritization urban E-vehicles barriers toward sustainable cities: A spherical fuzzy decision-making approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    15. Nils Sandman & Elisa Sahari & Aki Koponen, 2024. "But can it drive to Lapland? A comparison of electric vehicle owners with the general population for identification of attitudes, concerns and barriers related to electric vehicle adoption in Finland," PLOS Climate, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(10), pages 1-23, October.
    16. Hardman, Scott & Tal, Gil, 2021. "Discontinuance Among California’s Electric Vehicle Buyers: Why are Some Consumers Abandoning Electric Vehicles?," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt11n6f4hs, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    17. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:28:p:468-481 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Zhang, Hong & Irfan, Muhammad & Ai, Fengyi & Al-Aiban, Khalid M. & Abbas, Shujaat, 2024. "Analyzing barriers to the adoption and development of electric vehicles: A roadmap towards sustainable transportation system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    19. Champahom, Thanapong & Wisutwattanasak, Panuwat & Chonsalasin, Dissakoon & Se, Chamroeun & Jomnonkwao, Sajjakaj & Ratanavaraha, Vatanavongs, 2025. "Comparing Electric Vehicle Adoption Intentions Across Vehicle Types in Thailand: An Extended UTAUT2 Model with Government Participation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 408-435.
    20. Elena Higueras-Castillo & Sebastian Molinillo & J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak & Francisco Liébana-Cabanillas, 2020. "Potential Early Adopters of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in Spain—Towards a Customer Profile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, May.
    21. Felix Hinnüber & Marek Szarucki & Katarzyna Szopik-Depczyńska, 2019. "The Effects of a First-Time Experience on the Evaluation of Battery Electric Vehicles by Potential Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-25, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2810-:d:1617774. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.