IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/envsyd/v44y2024i3d10.1007_s10669-023-09958-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analyzing incentives and barriers to electric vehicle adoption in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Farshid Javadnejad

    (Old Dominin University)

  • Mohammad Jahanbakh

    (The University of Texas at Arlington)

  • Cesar Ariel Pinto

    (The University at Albany)

  • Azita Saeidi

    (Old Dominin University)

Abstract

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is influenced by a range of incentives and barriers. EVs offer benefits such as reduced emissions and lower costs but face challenges in gaining widespread acceptance. Government subsidies, tax credits, and EV charging infrastructure have played a pivotal role in driving EV adoption, making them more financially attractive and convenient. However, barriers such as high upfront costs, limited driving range, insufficient charging infrastructure, and consumer concerns about battery life and availability have hindered broader uptake. This study presents a novel approach that considers both incentives and barriers to summarize the factors influencing EV development in the US. Through a comprehensive literature review, we explore the various barriers and incentives that affect EV deployment. Using an advanced fishbone diagram, we categorize the factors into economic and market, technical, policy, and social categories, providing a better understanding of their interrelationships. We discuss critical incentives and barriers within each category, offering a detailed analysis of their impact on EV adoption. Additionally, we present the results of a quantitative analysis of selected factors by examining their correlations with EV sales. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of the incentives and barriers to EV development in the US, assisting policymakers and stakeholders in developing effective strategies and initiatives for promoting EV adoption and achieving a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Suggested Citation

  • Farshid Javadnejad & Mohammad Jahanbakh & Cesar Ariel Pinto & Azita Saeidi, 2024. "Analyzing incentives and barriers to electric vehicle adoption in the United States," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 575-606, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:44:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10669-023-09958-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-023-09958-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10669-023-09958-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10669-023-09958-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaoxue Zheng & Haiyan Lin & Zhi Liu & Dengfeng Li & Carlos Llopis-Albert & Shouzhen Zeng, 2018. "Manufacturing Decisions and Government Subsidies for Electric Vehicles in China: A Maximal Social Welfare Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-28, March.
    2. Sun, Lishan & Huang, Yuchen & Liu, Shuli & Chen, Yanyan & Yao, Liya & Kashyap, Anil, 2017. "A completive survey study on the feasibility and adaptation of EVs in Beijing, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 128-139.
    3. Tahami, Hesamoddin & Rabadi, Ghaith & Haouari, Mohamed, 2020. "Exact approaches for routing capacitated electric vehicles," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    4. Jay Johnson & Timothy Berg & Benjamin Anderson & Brian Wright, 2022. "Review of Electric Vehicle Charger Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities, Potential Impacts, and Defenses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, May.
    5. James B. Bushnell & Erich Muehlegger & David S. Rapson, 2022. "Energy Prices and Electric Vehicle Adoption," NBER Working Papers 29842, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. 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.
    7. Haustein, Sonja & Jensen, Anders Fjendbo & Cherchi, Elisabetta, 2021. "Battery electric vehicle adoption in Denmark and Sweden: Recent changes, related factors and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    8. Encarnação, Sara & Santos, Fernando P. & Santos, Francisco C. & Blass, Vered & Pacheco, Jorge M. & Portugali, Juval, 2018. "Paths to the adoption of electric vehicles: An evolutionary game theoretical approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 24-33.
    9. Sierzchula, William & Bakker, Sjoerd & Maat, Kees & van Wee, Bert, 2014. "The influence of financial incentives and other socio-economic factors on electric vehicle adoption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 183-194.
    10. Sidhu, Arjan S. & Pollitt, Michael G. & Anaya, Karim L., 2018. "A social cost benefit analysis of grid-scale electrical energy storage projects: A case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 881-894.
    11. Yingying Zhou & Zhuoqing Fang & Nan Li & Xueyan Wu & Yuehan Du & Zonghan Liu, 2019. "How Does Financial Development Affect Reductions in Carbon Emissions in High-Energy Industries?—A Perspective on Technological Progress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-25, August.
    12. Diamond, David, 2009. "The impact of government incentives for hybrid-electric vehicles: Evidence from US states," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 972-983, March.
    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. Mekky, Maher F. & Collins, Alan R., 2024. "The Impact of state policies on electric vehicle adoption -A panel data analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    2. Yahong Jiang & Qunqi Wu & Min Li & Yulei Gu & Jun Yang, 2023. "What Is Affecting the Popularity of New Energy Vehicles? A Systematic Review Based on the Public Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-29, September.
    3. Pei Chen & Mohamad Hisyam Selamat & See-Nie Lee, 2025. "The Impact of Policy Incentives on the Purchase of Electric Vehicles by Consumers in China’s First-Tier Cities: Moderate-Mediate Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-17, June.
    4. 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.
    5. Bhat, Furqan A. & Verma, Ashish, 2024. "Electric two-wheeler adoption in India – A discrete choice analysis of motivators and barriers affecting the potential electric two-wheeler buyers," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 118-131.
    6. Brozynski, Max T. & Leibowicz, Benjamin D., 2022. "A multi-level optimization model of infrastructure-dependent technology adoption: Overcoming the chicken-and-egg problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 300(2), pages 755-770.
    7. Makena Coffman & Paul Bernstein & Sherilyn Wee, 2017. "Electric vehicles revisited: a review of factors that affect adoption," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 79-93, January.
    8. Wee, Sherilyn & Coffman, Makena & Allen, Scott, 2020. "EV driver characteristics: Evidence from Hawaii," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 33-40.
    9. Lin, Boqiang & Tan, Ruipeng, 2017. "Estimation of the environmental values of electric vehicles in Chinese cities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 221-229.
    10. Li, Guodong & Walls, W.D. & Zheng, Xiaoli, 2023. "Differential license plate pricing and electric vehicle adoption in Shanghai, China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    11. Briseño, Hugo & Ramirez-Nafarrate, Adrian & Araz, Ozgur M., 2021. "A multivariate analysis of hybrid and electric vehicles sales in Mexico," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    12. Makena Coffman & Scott Allen & Sherilyn Wee, 2018. "Who are Driving Electric Vehicles? An analysis of factors that affect EV adoption in Hawaii," Working Papers 2018-3, University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
    13. Kumar, Ravi & Lamba, Kuldeep & Raman, Avinash, 2021. "Role of zero emission vehicles in sustainable transformation of the Indian automobile industry," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    14. Globisch, Joachim & Plötz, Patrick & Dütschke, Elisabeth & Wietschel, Martin, 2019. "Consumer preferences for public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 54-63.
    15. Liu, Xiaoling & Sun, Xiaohua & Zheng, Hui & Huang, Dongdong, 2021. "Do policy incentives drive electric vehicle adoption? Evidence from China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 49-62.
    16. Llopis-Albert, Carlos & Palacios-Marqués, Daniel & Simón-Moya, Virginia, 2021. "Fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) applied to the adaptation of the automobile industry to meet the emission standards of climate change policies via the deployment of electric vehicle," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    17. Nnaemeka V. Emodi & Udochukwu B. Akuru & Michael O. Dioha & Patrick Adoba & Remeredzai J. Kuhudzai & Olusola Bamisile, 2023. "The Role of Internet of Things on Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Consumer Experience," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-18, May.
    18. Alali, Layla & Niesten, Eva & Gagliardi, Dimitri, 2022. "The impact of UK financial incentives on the adoption of electric fleets: The moderation effect of GDP change," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 200-220.
    19. 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).
    20. Fei, Yinxin & Qin, Ping & Chu, Yanlai & Zheng, Huanhuan & Tan-Soo, Jie-Sheng & Zhang, Xiao-Bing, 2025. "Does high gasoline price spur electric vehicle adoption? Evidence from Chinese cities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).

    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:spr:envsyd:v:44:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10669-023-09958-3. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.