Factors To Electric Vehicle Adoption Rates In Vermont
Conference Year
January 2022
Abstract
Electric vehicles have taken the car manufacturing industry by storm and the demand for these energy-efficient vehicles is on the rise. With the risks of climate change gaining national and international attention, transitioning to clean energy is more important than ever. While, overall, the number of electric vehicles on the road has increased over the years, there is variation in adoption rates across different communities. This study seeks to understand why certain communities adopt electric vehicles and why others do not, which is essential for successfully incentivizing electric vehicles. This study evaluates community-level electric vehicle adoption rates, demographics, political leanings, land use and infrastructure, and economic activity to understand the factors that may influence the choice to purchase an electric vehicle. There is a growing body of research about factors that affect adoption rates but are typically conducted in urban regions such as California. With Vermont being largely rural and having cold winters that may pose barriers to electric vehicle adoption rates, it’s important to analyze areas with differing environments and attitudes. We find that the exploratory analysis indicates a possible relationship between electric vehicle adoption rates and political leanings, income, and economic activity. This analysis provides a foundation for future research that can offer a more detailed analysis by conducting multivariate modeling, evaluating changes over time, and various policy triggers.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Dana Rowangould
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Program/Major
Civil Engineering
Primary Research Category
Engineering & Physical Sciences
Factors To Electric Vehicle Adoption Rates In Vermont
Electric vehicles have taken the car manufacturing industry by storm and the demand for these energy-efficient vehicles is on the rise. With the risks of climate change gaining national and international attention, transitioning to clean energy is more important than ever. While, overall, the number of electric vehicles on the road has increased over the years, there is variation in adoption rates across different communities. This study seeks to understand why certain communities adopt electric vehicles and why others do not, which is essential for successfully incentivizing electric vehicles. This study evaluates community-level electric vehicle adoption rates, demographics, political leanings, land use and infrastructure, and economic activity to understand the factors that may influence the choice to purchase an electric vehicle. There is a growing body of research about factors that affect adoption rates but are typically conducted in urban regions such as California. With Vermont being largely rural and having cold winters that may pose barriers to electric vehicle adoption rates, it’s important to analyze areas with differing environments and attitudes. We find that the exploratory analysis indicates a possible relationship between electric vehicle adoption rates and political leanings, income, and economic activity. This analysis provides a foundation for future research that can offer a more detailed analysis by conducting multivariate modeling, evaluating changes over time, and various policy triggers.