Electric vehicle adopters' motivation, utilization patterns and environmental impacts: A Lisbon case study

Abstract

This work aims was to assess electric vehicle (EV) user's motivations, daily patterns and vehicle operation and management. The project was promoted by EMEL — Lisbon's mobility and parking management company, and was publicized among Lisbon's EV user's, who were offered, as an incentive, a green permit which allowed them to park for free in the city's metropolitan central area. Data was gathered over a period of one year from 25 users (private and fleet drivers) with interviews and on-board diaries, comprising a total of 5132 trips, 49785 km travelled and a total of 8529 kWh charged related to 831 charges. Private users mention environmental and economic (lower running costs) factors as main reasons for adoption, while fleet drivers also stand out the company's image as a motive to deploy this technology in fleets. EV reveals considerable reductions in both energy consumption and CO2 emissions in a Well-to-Wheel life cycle approach, reaching 35–43% and 58–63%, respectively, when compared with conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (gasoline and diesel).