Abstract
Electric vehicles are being intensively discussed as a possible sustainable and energy-efficient means of transport. Throughout Europe, broad programmes have been launched to support electric vehicle research, field trials and market diffusion. However, for a successful diffusion of electric vehicles, their acceptance by consumers is crucial. So far this issue has not been analysed sufficiently involving actual users of recent electric vehicle models. What do electric vehicle users and those intending to use an electric vehicle in the near future really think about electric vehicles? How do these perceptions change if they actually use an electric vehicle in everyday life? In order to provide answers to these questions, a longitudinal set of survey data has been analysed of participants in field trials in the eight pilot regions for electric mobility in Germany. These findings are compared to the survey data of nearly 1,000 German car drivers classified into four groups (current electric vehicle users, non-users with a concrete purchase intention, electric vehicle-interested people and consumers with no interest in electric vehicles). The analyses and the comparison between the two studies indicate that gaining real experience with electric vehicles has a positive influence on some predictors of the acceptance of electric vehicles according to the diffusion of innovation model by Rogers (2003). This indicates the relevance of the visibility and observability of electric vehicles. For example, providing test drive opportunities allows consumers to experience electric vehicles themselves and might help to increase consumer acceptance.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
In this paper electric vehicles include battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as four- and two-wheeled vehicles.
References
ADAC (2009) ADAC-Umfrage Kaufbereitschaft Elektroautos. ADAC, Landsberg a Lech
Anable J, Skippon S, Schuitema G, Kinnear N (2011) Who will adopt electric vehicles? A segmentation approach of UK consumers. In: Proceedings to ECEEE summer study, June 2011, Belambra Presqu’île de Giens, France
Axsen J, Kurani KS (2009) Interpersonal influence within car buyers’ social networks: five perspectives on plug-in hybrid electric vehicle demonstration participants. UC Davis ITS Working Paper. UCD-ITS-WP-09-04.ö
CABLED (2010) Electric vehicle drivers enjoy increased confidence and low ‘refueling’ costs. Aston University, Birmingham
Carroll S, Walsh C (2010) The smart move trial. Description and initial results. Cenex, London
Franke T, Neumann I, Bühler F, Cocron P, Krems JF (2011) Experiencing range in an electric vehicle: understanding psychological barriers. Appl Psychol: Int Rev. doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2011.00474.x
Fraunhofer IAO (2010) Elektromobilität—Herausforderungen für Industrie und öffentliche Hand. Fraunhofer IAO, Stuttgart PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Fuji S (2010) Does purchasing an “eco-car” increase the vehicle distance travelled? In: Abstracts of the 27th international congress of applied psychology, Australia. http://icap2010.eproceedings.com.au. Accessed 16 Dec 2011
Gärling A (2001) Paving the way for the electric vehicle. VINNOVA Rapport 2001:1
Gould J, Golob TF (1997) Clean air forever? A longitudinal analysis of opinions about air pollution and electric vehicles. Transp Res Part D 3:157–169
Graham-Rowe E, Gardner B, Abraham C, Skippon S, Dittmar H, Hutchins R, Stannard J (2012) Mainstream consumers driving plug-in battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars: A qualitative analysis of responses and evaluations. Transp Res Part A 46:140–153
Kley F (2011) Ladeinfrastrukturen für Elektrofahrzeuge. Entwicklung und Bewertung einer Ausbaustrategie auf Basis des Fahrverhaltens. Stuttgart, Fraunhofer Verlag
Knie A, Berthold O, Harms S, Truffer B (1999) Die Neuerfindung urbaner Automobilität. Elektroautos und ihr Gebrauch in den U.S.A. und Europa. Berlin, edition sigma
Kurani K, Heffner R, Turrentine T (2007) Driving plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: reports from U.S. drivers of HEVs converted to PHEVs, circa 2006–2007. University of California, Davis
Liberman M, Trope Y, Stephan E (2007) Psychological distance. In: Kruglanski AW, Higgins ET (eds) Social psychology: handbook of basic principles. Guilford Press, New York
Martin E, Shaheen SA, Lipman TE, Lidicker JR (2009) Behavioral response to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and refueling: results of California drive clinics. Int J Hydrogen Energy 34:8670–8680
Peters A, Agosti R, Popp M, Ryf B (2011) Electric mobility—a survey of different consumer groups in Germany with regard to adoption. In: Proceedings to ECEEE summer study, June 2011, Belambra Presqu’île de Giens, France
Rogers EM (2003) Diffusion of innovations, 5th edn. Free Press, New York
Roland Berger (2010) Powertrain 2020. Electric vehicles—voice of the customer. Munich, Roland Berger
Skippon S, Garwood M (2011) Responses to battery electric vehicles: UK consumer attitudes and attributions of symbolic meaning following direct experience to reduce psychological distance. Transp Res Part D 16:1–7
Tüv SÜD, Technomar (2009) Kurz- und mittelfristige Erschließung des Marktes für Elektroautomobile Deutschland—EU. Technomar, Munich
Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Special thanks go to the participants of our surveys and the projects which provided the data.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schneider, U., Dütschke, E., Peters, A. (2014). How Does the Actual Usage of Electric Vehicles Influence Consumer Acceptance?. In: Hülsmann, M., Fornahl, D. (eds) Evolutionary Paths Towards the Mobility Patterns of the Future. Lecture Notes in Mobility. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37558-3_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37558-3_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-37557-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-37558-3
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)