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Why is electric vehicle uptake low in Atlantic Canada? A comparison to leading adoption provinces

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  • Abotalebi, Elnaz
  • Scott, Darren M.
  • Ferguson, Mark R.

Abstract

This paper investigates potential electric vehicle (EV) adoption among households in Atlantic Canada, a region lagging in terms of EV uptake. The data come from a 2015 Survey for Preferences and Attitudes of Canadians towards Electric Vehicles or SPACE, with an intent to investigate electric mobility prospects in Canada through a series of socioeconomic, attitudinal, and stated preference (SP) questions. A latent class (LC) random utility model is used to segment Atlantic respondents based on their sociodemographic and environmental attitudes, and to estimate their willingness-to-pay for different vehicular features. A separate model is estimated for leading adoption provinces (Ontario and British Columbia), and compared to the Atlantic model. Results indicate that cash incentives and the quality of battery warranty are important features shaping the choice of vehicle powertrain in the Atlantic sample. Contrary to the model obtained from the leading provinces, electric range, maintenance cost, free parking, and access to high occupancy vehicle lanes are not significant attributes in the Atlantic model. With respect to segmentation, the adoption of EVs in the Atlantic model increases with youth, education, and progressive attitudes towards the environment, while income is not a determining factor. Our results imply some support for EVs among Atlantic consumers, though at less advanced levels than the leading adoption provinces in Canada. However, the high purchase price of EVs, lack of financial incentives, and limited public charging infrastructure are seen as key reasons for low EV deployment in Atlantic Canada. The demographic profiles of the plug-in oriented group, found in this study, suggest targeted decisions regarding policy and marketing.

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  • Abotalebi, Elnaz & Scott, Darren M. & Ferguson, Mark R., 2019. "Why is electric vehicle uptake low in Atlantic Canada? A comparison to leading adoption provinces," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 289-298.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:74:y:2019:i:c:p:289-298
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2018.12.001
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    14. Yang, J. & Chen, F., 2021. "How are social-psychological factors related to consumer preferences for plug-in electric vehicles? Case studies from two cities in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    15. Jia, Wenjian & Jiang, Zhiqiu & Wang, Qian & Xu, Bin & Xiao, Mei, 2023. "Preferences for zero-emission vehicle attributes: Comparing early adopters with mainstream consumers in California," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 21-32.
    16. Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Asamoah, Ama Nyarkoh & Obuobi, Bright & Nketiah, Emmanuel & Zhang, Ming, 2024. "Electric mobility in an oil-producing developing nation: Empirical assessment of electric vehicle adoption," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    17. Qiu, Y.Q. & Tsan Sheng Ng, Adam & Zhou, P., 2022. "Optimizing urban electric vehicle incentive policy mixes in China: Perspective of residential preference heterogeneity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    18. Bansal, Prateek & Kumar, Rajeev Ranjan & Raj, Alok & Dubey, Subodh & Graham, Daniel J., 2021. "Willingness to pay and attitudinal preferences of Indian consumers for electric vehicles," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    19. Williams, B. & Bishop, D. & Hooper, G. & Chase, J.G., 2024. "Driving change: Electric vehicle charging behavior and peak loading," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    20. Ken’ichi Matsumoto & Yui Nakamine & Sunyong Eom & Hideki Kato, 2021. "Demographic, Social, Economic, and Regional Factors Affecting the Diffusion of Hybrid Electric Vehicles in Japan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.
    21. Jia, Wenjian & Chen, T. Donna, 2023. "Investigating heterogeneous preferences for plug-in electric vehicles: Policy implications from different choice models," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    22. Paweł Bryła & Shuvam Chatterjee & Beata Ciabiada-Bryła, 2022. "Consumer Adoption of Electric Vehicles: A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
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    24. Prateek Bansal & Rajeev Ranjan Kumar & Alok Raj & Subodh Dubey & Daniel J. Graham, 2021. "Willingness to Pay and Attitudinal Preferences of Indian Consumers for Electric Vehicles," Papers 2101.08008, arXiv.org, revised May 2021.

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