Title: Urban, sub-urban or rural: where is the best place for electric vehicles?

Authors: Daniel Newman; Peter Wells; Ceri Donovan; Paul Nieuwenhuis; Huw Davies

Addresses: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK ' Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK ' School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK ' Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK ' School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

Abstract: This paper critiques the assumption that an urban setting is the most appropriate for electric vehicles. In so doing, it questions the implementation of transitions theory and socio-technical experiments in the quest to establish electric vehicles as an alternative to the existing automobility regime. For vehicle owners and infrastructure providers alike, as with society generally, the benefits of electric vehicles are maximised when usage is most intense; a difficult situation to achieve in urban areas aside from light commercial delivery and service applications. Using case study information from electric vehicle trials under the ENEVATE research programme into users of such vehicles in North West Europe, it is concluded that more policy and research attention should be given to sub-urban and rural electric vehicle applications as promising niches from which wider socio-technical change may develop.

Keywords: electric vehicles; transitions theory; socio-technical experiments; urban areas; rural areas; transport policy; infrastructure; urban transport; rural transport.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2014.065295

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2014 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.306 - 323

Published online: 31 Oct 2014 *

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