Resistance to purchasing all-electric vehicles: Evidence from a national survey

Abstract

Most Americans believe that climate change, if unchecked, will be a serious problem, but a majority are not willing to even consider purchasing all-electric vehicles (EVs). This paper is the first to report an in-depth test of hypotheses to explain this resistance, derived from a conceptual framework built upon rational choice theory, theories of morality, the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Mere Exposure Theory. Data from a 2020 survey of a nationally representative sample of the American adult population (N = 502) showed: as expected, financial and non-financial instrumental considerations and normative considerations were strong predictors of resistance, whereas first-hand or second-hand experience driving an EV did not predict resistance. Experience with EVs and educational attainment moderated the impact of some predictors of resistance. These findings testify to the value of the conceptual framework, validate some predictions while refuting others, and identify pathways to encouraging more EV adoption.