Journal of Transportation Research

Journal of Transportation Research

Evaluating the Impact of Various Charging Conditions on Consumer Preferences for Electric Vehicle Purchase

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 M.Sc., Grad., Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; & Adjunct Professor, Department of Civil, Geological & Mining Eng., Polytechnique Montréal, Canada.
Abstract
The significant contribution of urban transportation to greenhouse gas emissions highlights electric vehicles (EVs) as an effective solution for reducing these pollutants. Implementing effective policies and creating the necessary conditions to enhance users' willingness to purchase and use EVs require identifying the key influencing factors. This study evaluates the impact of different EV charging conditions (including cost, duration, and location) on users' purchasing preferences. Data for this research were collected through a questionnaire designed for this purpose, administered via face-to-face interviews with 366 Tehran residents during the summer of 2024. The results of a discrete choice model of the nested logit type indicate that increasing charging costs and duration significantly reduce the likelihood of purchasing an EV. Specifically, marginal effect analysis shows that for every 10,000 IRR increase in charging costs, the willingness to purchase an EV decreases by 0.37%, and for each additional minute of charging time, this willingness drops by 0.45%. Additionally, younger individuals, women, and those with access to non-public charging facilities (such as commercial centers, shopping malls, and workplaces) exhibit a higher inclination to purchase EVs, whereas individuals with postgraduate education demonstrate lower willingness. The analysis of different interaction variable combinations in the modeling process reveals that the interaction term between "monthly income exceeding 300 million IRR" and "households owning more than one vehicle" has a positive effect on the decision to adopt EVs. The findings of this study can serve as a foundation for effective policymaking aimed at increasing user motivation in choosing electric vehicles.
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