1. Email L.Bunce@londonmet.ac.uk
Charge up then charge out? Drivers’ perceptions and experiences of electric vehicles in the UK
Dr Louise Bunce, Prof. Margaret Harris, Dr Mark Burgess, Sarah Mansbridge
Method
Drive­­­rs were part of the UK’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle
demonstration program. 207 drivers were included in this study
(25% female). The mean age was 46 years.
Every driver used an EV for at least 3 months providing the
opportunity to establish how they integrated it into their
daily lives.
Their attitudes and experiences were assessed using
questionnaires and interviews both before they obtained their
EV and after driving the EV for 3 months. We were particularly
interested in their perception of the differences between
recharging and refuelling, their recharging routines, and
requirements for a public charging infrastructure.
Introduction
To meet the targets set by the Climate Change Act (2008), the UK must achieve an 80% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2050 relative to 1990 levels. Road transport accounts for around a quarter of CO₂ emissions, and electric vehicles (EVs) offer the potential to decarbonise the transport sector and reduce the UK’s dependency on oil.
Research Questions
This research investigated responses to recharging EVs from the perspective of EV drivers to determine how the requirements for recharging (as opposed to refuelling) represented advantages or challenges to EV use. The results will help to understand the likelihood of consumer uptake.
Findings
1) Recharging versus Refuelling: 87% of drivers adapted quickly to the charging process and found it as easy as plugging in a household appliance. 85% preferred recharging from home to refuelling at a fuel station due to the convenience, cleanliness and independence from oil companies. Some drivers, however, found the charging cable cumbersome or fiddly to use and early charging attempts were unsuccessful. 66% of drivers agreed that the time to charge the EV did not limit their use of it. Drivers welcomed the substantial savings on fuel. These benefits could be used to inform potential consumers.
2) Recharging Routines: Three routines were evident: recharging overnight regardless of the state of charge, recharging when the state of charge was ‘low’, and recharging at any given opportunity. Drivers became more flexible in their routines over time as they gained experience and confidence in their EVs capacity. Understanding when drivers recharge has important implications for future grid electricity provision.
3) Public Charging Infrastructure: Pre-trial 86% of drivers agreed that a PCI would be essential, but after 3 months 82% agreed that they could complete their daily trips without one. 61% of drivers indicated that they would buy an EV in the future, even if the only place they could charge the vehicle was at home. Although there is much debate about the extent to which EV drivers would use a PCI, these findings indicate that one may be necessary to provide psychological reassurance in order to increase market adoption.
It’s like treating it like your mobile phone and just plugging it in every night before you go to bed and then when you get up in the morning, unplugging it and driving off to work.
The charging process is straightforward once you know how to do it… plugging into a 13A socket is easy … you plug-in household appliances all the time … it’s easy, that’s great.
One night we left it on charge and it didn’t charge for whatever reason. I don’t think we plugged it in properly so after that we would always make sure… I suppose that was a little bit of change in behaviour, you know, sort of trial by error - we got it wrong and we couldn’t use the car that day.
I’ve maybe become a little bit more relaxed, so…at first I made sure that I had ample charge in the vehicle…but now I would just make sure that there’s enough.
[A public charging infrastructure] wasn’t necessary for myself … but I would like it there before I felt comfortable buying one
I’m definitely saving money but how much I’m saving I couldn’t tell you, I haven’t done those figures.
I don’t find it a chore, I find it quite easy, I think it’s quite liberating … because I don’t have to go to a petrol station.
These findings have important implications for understanding how to increase the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and are having a direct impact on the decisions and directions of key stakeholders and policy makers.