Who is afraid of electric vehicles? An analysis of stated EV preferences in Switzerland

Jeremy van Dijk and Mehdi Farsi

No 22-04, IRENE Working Papers from IRENE Institute of Economic Research

Abstract: We analyse the relative effect of potential barriers for the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). While focusing on key factors such as purchase price, battery range, and driving costs, we investigate the heterogeneity of their effects across various groups of consumers and determine those most resistant to the new technology. To this end we develop a choice experiment conducted among 882 respondents across Switzerland. The stated-preference approach allows us to go beyond early adopters to the broader population of car owners, but also individuals potentially interested in buying a car in the near future. Our findings indicate relatively low demand elasticity with respect to purchase price, and statistically insignificant elasticity with respect to battery range and driving cost. Car ownership and habitual transport choices, as well as environmental preferences, are significant determinants of the selected technology. While respondents who do not own a car are more likely to choose an EV, regular car users present a strong resistance to the new technology. Overall, the results suggest that marginal promotion policies are unlikely to have a large impact on EV adoption.

Keywords: Transport; Electric vehicles; Adoption barriers; Choice experiment; Stated preferences; Environmental policy; Behaviour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D90 O33 Q40 Q48 Q50 Q58 R40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36 pages.
Date: 2022-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dcm, nep-ene and nep-tre
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:irn:wpaper:22-04

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