Latest revision as of 13:04, 12 February 2021

Abstract

This paper explores the factors affecting the uptake of hybrid and electric vehicles in the European Union (EU) using data from two extensive cross-sectional surveys. Each survey consists of 26,500 responses to a questionnaire that combines socio-economic and behavioral aspects. The share of respondents across the EU stating that they would certainly or probably consider purchasing a hybrid or a battery-powered electric vehicle (H&EV) in the near future rose from 32% in 2014 to 37.4% in 2018. There is, however, a high variability among EU member states, as well as across different socio-economic groups. Propensity is highly correlated with income, educational attainment, and urbanization level. In order to address the high degree of collinearity, we applied a machine learning classification model to analyze and explain the interaction between the variables that affected the expressed propensity to purchase such a vehicle. The findings highlight something largely missing from the literature, namely that local conditions and regional variation are a major, if not decisive, factor regarding purchasing choices. Seen from a policy perspective, this conclusion may provide guidance regarding how to support the take up of H&EVs through measures that are tailored to the specific needs at the local level.

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The different versions of the original document can be found in:

• http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en12183414 under the license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by

• https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/18/3414/pdf under the license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

• https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/18/3414,

https://doaj.org/toc/1996-1073 under the license cc-by

• https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/18/3414,

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/18/3414/pdf,

https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v12y2019i18p3414-d264147.html,

https://academic.microsoft.com/#/detail/2971496655

• https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/18/3414/pdf,

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en12183414

under the license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/