IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v130y2019icp507-516.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The role of practical, cognitive and symbolic factors in the successful implementation of battery electric vehicles in Norway

Author

Listed:
  • Ingeborgrud, Lina
  • Ryghaug, Marianne

Abstract

Reducing emissions from privately-owned cars plays a central role in reaching targets for global greenhouse gas emissions. Electrification has been one strategy to meet this goal. Norway has been a forerunner and is today the country with the highest proportion of privately-owned battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe. Thus, studying Norwegian experiences with electric mobility should be useful for those working with the electrification of person transport in other countries. In this paper, we analyze user experiences with different models of BEVs, symbolic dimensions of BEV ownership and use, and the significance of incentives promoting BEVs. We argue that the total package of incentives not only provides instrumental motives to buy BEVs but represents a highly visible, national policy in support of BEVs that has been important for adoption, giving BEVs a symbolic certification as an environmentally sound mobility choice. The paper also points to the way incentives for BEVs have different meaning to different drivers according to BEV model and driving experience. Hence, we stress the importance of not treating BEVs as a homogenous technology when developing policy. We argue that the combination of the economic and symbolic value of incentives, technical and practical dimensions of BEVs and not least growing environmental concerns have fostered the successful introduction of BEVs in Norway. The paper is based on in-depth interviews with different segments of BEV drivers in 2013 and 2015, as well as data from two surveys conducted by the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association in 2016 and 2017.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingeborgrud, Lina & Ryghaug, Marianne, 2019. "The role of practical, cognitive and symbolic factors in the successful implementation of battery electric vehicles in Norway," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 507-516.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:130:y:2019:i:c:p:507-516
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2019.09.045
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856419300084
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2019.09.045?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Figenbaum, Erik & Assum, Terje & Kolbenstvedt, Marika, 2015. "Electromobility in Norway: Experiences and Opportunities," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 29-38.
    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    3. Aune, Margrethe & Godbolt, Åsne Lund & Sørensen, Knut H. & Ryghaug, Marianne & Karlstrøm, Henrik & Næss, Robert, 2016. "Concerned consumption. Global warming changing household domestication of energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 290-297.
    4. Hopkins, Debbie & Stephenson, Janet, 2014. "Generation Y mobilities through the lens of energy cultures: a preliminary exploration of mobility cultures," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 88-91.
    5. Plötz, Patrick & Schneider, Uta & Globisch, Joachim & Dütschke, Elisabeth, 2014. "Who will buy electric vehicles? Identifying early adopters in Germany," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 96-109.
    6. Steg, Linda, 2005. "Car use: lust and must. Instrumental, symbolic and affective motives for car use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2-3), pages 147-162.
    7. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Axsen, Jonn, 2018. "Functional, symbolic and societal frames for automobility: Implications for sustainability transitions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 730-746.
    8. Noel, Lance & Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo & Kester, Johannes & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2018. "Beyond emissions and economics: Rethinking the co-benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G)," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 130-137.
    9. Axsen, Jonn & TyreeHageman, Jennifer & Lentz, Andy, 2012. "Lifestyle practices and pro-environmental technology," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 64-74.
    10. Mohamed, Moataz & Higgins, Chris & Ferguson, Mark & Kanaroglou, Pavlos, 2016. "Identifying and characterizing potential electric vehicle adopters in Canada: A two-stage modelling approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 100-112.
    11. Nathalie Ortar & Marianne Ryghaug, 2019. "Should All Cars Be Electric by 2025? The Electric Car Debate in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, March.
    12. Krupa, Joseph S. & Rizzo, Donna M. & Eppstein, Margaret J. & Brad Lanute, D. & Gaalema, Diann E. & Lakkaraju, Kiran & Warrender, Christina E., 2014. "Analysis of a consumer survey on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 14-31.
    13. Watson, Matt, 2012. "How theories of practice can inform transition to a decarbonised transport system," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 488-496.
    14. Axsen, Jonn & Bailey, Joseph & Castro, Marisol Andrea, 2015. "Preference and lifestyle heterogeneity among potential plug-in electric vehicle buyers," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 190-201.
    15. Makena Coffman & Paul Bernstein & Sherilyn Wee, 2017. "Electric vehicles revisited: a review of factors that affect adoption," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 79-93, January.
    16. Kester, Johannes & Noel, Lance & Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2018. "Policy mechanisms to accelerate electric vehicle adoption: A qualitative review from the Nordic region," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 719-731.
    17. Schuitema, Geertje & Anable, Jillian & Skippon, Stephen & Kinnear, Neale, 2013. "The role of instrumental, hedonic and symbolic attributes in the intention to adopt electric vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 39-49.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Khatua, Apalak & Ranjan Kumar, Rajeev & Kumar De, Supriya, 2023. "Institutional enablers of electric vehicle market: Evidence from 30 countries," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    2. Manuela Ingaldi & Dorota Klimecka-Tatar, 2020. "People’s Attitude to Energy from Hydrogen—From the Point of View of Modern Energy Technologies and Social Responsibility," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Briseño, Hugo & Ramirez-Nafarrate, Adrian & Araz, Ozgur M., 2021. "A multivariate analysis of hybrid and electric vehicles sales in Mexico," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Galvin, Ray, 2022. "Are electric vehicles getting too big and heavy? Modelling future vehicle journeying demand on a decarbonized US electricity grid," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    5. Haustein, Sonja & Jensen, Anders Fjendbo & Cherchi, Elisabetta, 2021. "Battery electric vehicle adoption in Denmark and Sweden: Recent changes, related factors and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    6. Kamile Petrauskiene & Jolanta Dvarioniene & Giedrius Kaveckis & Daina Kliaugaite & Julie Chenadec & Leonie Hehn & Berta Pérez & Claudio Bordi & Giorgio Scavino & Andrea Vignoli & Michael Erman, 2020. "Situation Analysis of Policies for Electric Mobility Development: Experience from Five European Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-21, April.
    7. Viri, Riku & Mäkinen, Johanna & Liimatainen, Heikki, 2021. "Modelling car fleet renewal in Finland: A model and development speed-based scenarios," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 63-79.
    8. Ayorinde Ogunyiola & Maaz Gardezi, 2022. "Restoring sense out of disorder? Farmers’ changing social identities under big data and algorithms," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(4), pages 1451-1464, December.
    9. Wang, Mengmeng & Liu, Kang & Dutta, Shanta & Alessi, Daniel S. & Rinklebe, Jörg & Ok, Yong Sik & Tsang, Daniel C.W., 2022. "Recycling of lithium iron phosphate batteries: Status, technologies, challenges, and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    10. Rosa, Carmen Brum & Francescatto, Matheus Binotto & Neuenfeldt Júnior, Alvaro Luiz & Bernardon, Daniel Pinheiro & dos Santos, Laura Lisiane Callai, 2023. "Regulatory analysis of E-mobility for Brazil: A comparative review and outlook," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    11. Guo, Yuntao & Souders, Dustin & Labi, Samuel & Peeta, Srinivas & Benedyk, Irina & Li, Yujie, 2021. "Paving the way for autonomous Vehicles: Understanding autonomous vehicle adoption and vehicle fuel choice under user heterogeneity," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 364-398.
    12. Aasness, Marie Aarestrup & Odeck, James, 2023. "Road users’ attitudes towards electric vehicle incentives: Empirical evidence from Oslo in 2014–2020," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    13. Kacperski, Celina & Ulloa, Roberto & Klingert, Sonja & Kirpes, Benedikt & Kutzner, Florian, 2022. "Impact of incentives for greener battery electric vehicle charging – A field experiment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    14. Nguyen-Phuoc, Duy Quy & Nguyen, Nguyen An Ngoc & Tran, Phuong Thi Kim & Pham, Huong-Giang & Oviedo-Trespalacios, Oscar, 2023. "The influence of environmental concerns and psychosocial factors on electric motorbike switching intention in the global south," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    15. Robert M. Bridi & Marwa Ben Jabra & Naeema Al Hosani, 2022. "An Examination of Consumers’ Opinions toward Adopting Electric Vehicles in the United Arab Emirates: On the Effects of Functional and Symbolic Values," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-19, August.
    16. Andrzej Soboń & Daniel Słyś & Mariusz Ruszel & Alicja Wiącek, 2021. "Prospects for the Use of Hydrogen in the Armed Forces," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-12, October.
    17. Cruz-Jesus, Frederico & Figueira-Alves, Hugo & Tam, Carlos & Pinto, Diego Costa & Oliveira, Tiago & Venkatesh, Viswanath, 2023. "Pragmatic and idealistic reasons: What drives electric vehicle drivers' satisfaction and continuance intention?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mohamed, Moataz & Higgins, Christopher D. & Ferguson, Mark & Réquia, Weeberb J., 2018. "The influence of vehicle body type in shaping behavioural intention to acquire electric vehicles: A multi-group structural equation approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 54-72.
    2. Mohamed, Moataz & Higgins, Chris & Ferguson, Mark & Kanaroglou, Pavlos, 2016. "Identifying and characterizing potential electric vehicle adopters in Canada: A two-stage modelling approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 100-112.
    3. Kumar Shalender & Naman Sharma, 2021. "Using extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to predict adoption intention of electric vehicles in India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 665-681, January.
    4. Higueras-Castillo, Elena & Kalinic, Zoran & Marinkovic, Veljko & Liébana-Cabanillas, Francisco J., 2020. "A mixed analysis of perceptions of electric and hybrid vehicles," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    5. Hasan, Saiful & Simsekoglu, Özlem, 2020. "The role of psychological factors on vehicle kilometer travelled (VKT) for battery electric vehicle (BEV) users," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    6. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Axsen, Jonn, 2018. "Functional, symbolic and societal frames for automobility: Implications for sustainability transitions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 730-746.
    7. Matthias N. Sweet & Kailey Laidlaw, 2020. "No longer in the driver’s seat: How do affective motivations impact consumer interest in automated vehicles?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 2601-2634, October.
    8. White, Lee V. & Sintov, Nicole D., 2017. "You are what you drive: Environmentalist and social innovator symbolism drives electric vehicle adoption intentions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 94-113.
    9. Herberz, Mario & Hahnel, Ulf J.J. & Brosch, Tobias, 2020. "The importance of consumer motives for green mobility: A multi-modal perspective," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 102-118.
    10. Jon Martin Denstadli & Tom Erik Julsrud, 2019. "Moving Towards Electrification of Workers’ Transportation: Identifying Key Motives for the Adoption of Electric Vans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-19, July.
    11. Brückmann, Gracia, 2022. "Test-drives & information might not boost actual battery electric vehicle uptake?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 204-218.
    12. Hardman, Scott & Tal, Gil, 2021. "Discontinuance Among California’s Electric Vehicle Buyers: Why are Some Consumers Abandoning Electric Vehicles?," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt11n6f4hs, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    13. Jaiswal, Deepak & Deshmukh, Arun Kumar & Thaichon, Park, 2022. "Who will adopt electric vehicles? Segmenting and exemplifying potential buyer heterogeneity and forthcoming research," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    14. Tchetchik, Anat & Zvi, Liat I. & Kaplan, Sigal & Blass, Vered, 2020. "The joint effects of driving hedonism and trialability on the choice between internal combustion engine, hybrid, and electric vehicles," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    15. Anna Kowalska-Pyzalska & Marek Kott & Joanna Kott, 2020. "How much Polish consumers know about alternative fuel vehicles?," WORking papers in Management Science (WORMS) WORMS/20/14, Department of Operations Research and Business Intelligence, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
    16. Eunsung Kim & Eunnyeong Heo, 2019. "Key Drivers behind the Adoption of Electric Vehicle in Korea: An Analysis of the Revealed Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Li, Wenbo & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong & Geng, Jichao, 2017. "A review of factors influencing consumer intentions to adopt battery electric vehicles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 318-328.
    18. Elena Higueras-Castillo & Sebastian Molinillo & J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak & Francisco Liébana-Cabanillas, 2020. "Potential Early Adopters of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in Spain—Towards a Customer Profile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, May.
    19. Mohd Yusoff Yusliza & Amirudin Amirudin & Raden Aswin Rahadi & Nik Afzan Nik Sarah Athirah & Thurasamy Ramayah & Zikri Muhammad & Francesca Dal Mas & Maurizio Massaro & Jumadil Saputra & Safiek Mokhli, 2020. "An Investigation of Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Sustainable Development in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.
    20. 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.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:130:y:2019:i:c:p:507-516. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.