An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Affecting Adoption of Electric Vehicles

The development of electric vehicles (EVs) has accelerated in recent years, in part because of significant governmental support. Despite this support, however, the market share of EVs in the United States remains relatively small, and a large majority of consumers exhibit reluctance toward adopting them. This study aims to facilitate the effective development of EVs by identifying the barriers that affect their adoption in the United States and analyzing responses to an online questionnaire designed to provide insight into various perspectives of the barriers. A literature search identified 17 barriers that served as the basis of the survey questionnaire. A total of 733 individuals provided complete responses, and cluster analysis was performed. The results revealed three cluster segments and indicated that middle-aged males who possess higher levels of education and income exhibit greater levels of interest in the adoption of electric vehicles. The outcomes of this study may offer direction to policymakers in formulating efficacious energy and transportation policies and guide designers of electric vehicles to align the requirements and preferences of prospective consumers with their designs.