How our brain is obstructing the advancement of electric cars

Around the globe, many of the (technical and financial) obstacles to the adoption of electric cars have been removed in recent years. 

However, a significant boost in the number of electric vehicles on the road has not yet been achieved. Why don't we take the plunge toward electric transportation en masse? 

Scientists at the University of Geneva discovered that a persistent cognitive bias still stands in our way. It turns out that we tend to underestimate range and overestimate the range we actually need for our day-to-day commute. 

Charging infrastructure may not be the primary condition needed to improve the advancement of electric transportation - (Image Credit: Scharfsinn via Shutterstock / HDR tune by Universal-Sci)

Although the adaptation of electric cars has been much more swiftly in some nations/states (like Norway, Sweden, California, and the Netherlands), globally, plug-in electric cars account for little over 1% of all passenger vehicles.

Slow adaptation occurs even though the leading financial and technical barriers have largely been removed from the equation. EVs are, on average, less expensive than they were five years ago, and aspects like charging infrastructure have vastly improved. 

So, what is still preventing many of us from purchasing an electric car? 

Researchers at the University of Geneva examined the cognitive elements that still discourage numerous people from shifting toward an EV. A considerable portion of the answer lies in cognitive biases of car drivers.

Financial and technological barriers versus psychological factors

According to Mario Herberz, the study's main author, the emphasis in matters related to the energy transition has been on financial and technological barriers up until now. In contrast, psychological facets have been given little consideration. 

Herberz: ''Many studies show that individuals do not automatically adopt the behaviors most beneficial for themselves or society, often due to a lack of access to complete information.''

Interesting side note: transport accounts for a large part of worldwide co2 emissions (approximately 20% to 25%). Almost 75% of transport emissions are produced by road vehicles. So there is still a lot to win with the adaptation of EVs. (Although EVs cause more pollution when produced, they have a significantly reduced co2 footprint after a few years of use.)

Image Credit: Hannah Ritchie via Our World In Data

For their study, the researchers surveyed over 2000 drivers from Germany and the United States with different backgrounds and ages and isolated the source of the cognitive biases that were keeping them from embracing an EV. 

Tobias Brosch, one of the authors, remarks that the team found that participants systematically underestimated the compatibility of electric battery capacities available on the current market with their actual needs.

In other words, consumers believe that the current range of electric cars is not enough to cover their daily journeys. They are underestimating the capabilities/range of EVs while (substantially) overestimating the distance of day-to-day trips. 

The optimal range for an EV

Yet, the estimations mentioned above are not justified. The Geneva scientists found that over 90% of car journeys can be made with a vehicle with a driving range of about 200 kilometers/130 miles. 

200 km is a very modest range taking the capabilities of EVs currently on the market into consideration. Many models can drive for over 400 kilometers before requiring a recharge.  

According to Herberz, the trend is to improve performance even further, but he and his team noted that a better range, beyond 300km, for example, does not improve the fit to daily needs. It would only have a marginal effect on the number of extra trips achievable on a single charge. 

Increasing the size of the batteries and improving charging infrastructure may not be the primary condition needed to improve the advancement of electric transportation. Instead, the researchers think we can achieve more if we provide motorists with tailor-made information adapted to their concrete needs, reducing their concerns. 

The team published their findings in the peer-reviewed science journal: Nature Energy which we have listed below for those that would like a more detailed look at the study. 

Sources and further reading:

• Quantum charging will enable EVs to charge just as quickly as fueling up a car with gasoline (Universal-Sci)

• Counteracting electric vehicle range concern with a scalable behavioural intervention (nature energy)

• Cars, planes, trains: where do CO2 emissions from transport come from? (Our World in Data)

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle (EPA)

• University of Geneva

• Electric car use by country
  

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