Which variables influence electric vehicle adoption?

Understanding the factors that will influence people’s preferences for Electric Vehicles (EVs) over Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) is crucial. A discrete choice experiment was designed and administered as an online survey resulting in 1077 completed questionnaires. This study examined the influence of over 83 variables on preferences for EVs. As well, previous studies have used tailpipe emissions only to present GHG information, but in this study lifecycle GHG emissions of vehicles are presented. Five ensemble learning techniques and two interpretation techniques were employed to investigate individual decisions regarding selecting between EVs and ICEVs. The results demonstrate that when lifecycle emissions are presented, financial impacts are the principal influences on predicting preference for an EV over ICEV. Following the financial impacts are existing preferences for EVs and attitudes related to climate change. How the emissions are presented was the 12th and 9th most influential factor for BEVs and PHEVs respectively.