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Did Electric Vehicle Sales Skyrocket Due to Increased Environmental Awareness While Total Vehicle Sales Declined during COVID-19?

Author

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  • Theo Lieven

    (Institute for Mobility, IMO, School of Management, University of St. Gallen, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Beatrice Hügler

    (Institute for Mobility, IMO, School of Management, University of St. Gallen, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

Abstract

Since the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a global threat to humankind. In addition to many cases of illness and millions of deaths, the economy has suffered. Not surprisingly, vehicle sales have declined sharply in most countries by up to 25%. However, the overall sales of electric vehicles (EVs) did not stall; instead, they increased to previously forecasted levels. Is this increase evidence that COVID-19 has promoted sustainable action and strengthened environmental awareness, as researchers have discussed in recently published articles? Or is this merely the effect of monetary incentives by governments, as has been demonstrated in scientific research? This study examines the causes behind the surprising continuous climb of EV sales despite the outbreak of the pandemic by contrasting the influence of COVID-19 on environmental concerns and the usual monetary incentives with their potential complementary effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Theo Lieven & Beatrice Hügler, 2021. "Did Electric Vehicle Sales Skyrocket Due to Increased Environmental Awareness While Total Vehicle Sales Declined during COVID-19?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:24:p:13839-:d:702710
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Srivastava, Ankur & Gautam, Vikas & Sharma, Vikram, 2023. "Does consideration for future consequences matter in consumer decision to rent electric vehicles?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    2. Weitao Zhang & Adaviah Mas’od & Zuraidah Sulaiman, 2022. "Moderating Effect of Collectivism on Chinese Consumers’ Intention to Adopt Electric Vehicles—An Adoption of VBN Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-35, September.
    3. Grzegorz Koszalka & Paweł Krzaczek, 2022. "Energy Losses Related to Ring Pack Wear in Gasoline Car Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Ona Egbue & Suzanna Long & Seong Dae Kim, 2022. "Resource Availability and Implications for the Development of Plug-In Electric Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, January.

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