Potential implementation of EVs – Features, Challenges and User perspective

Sustainable transportation has become an important consideration for countries seeking to reduce carbon emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a cornerstone of the transformation toward sustainability within the transportation sector; however, research on large-scale EVs’ implementation to aid carbon emission reduction is sparse. Doubts have been raised concerning the effectiveness of EVs in satisfying sustainability in all of its dimensions: economic, social and environmental. Since achieving balanced sustainability requires an understanding of end-users’ requirements, a mixed-methods empirical study surveyed end-users’ perceptions of the desirable characteristics of EVs, using Saudi Arabia as a case study. Data gathered from 1012 respondents were analyzed to examine and rank their preferences, allowing the identification of a set of key features likely to influence Saudi citizens’ utilization of EVs. Quantitative findings indicate that the features perceived as most significant were availability of charging stations and EV travelling distance. Other features which are also found important include aesthetics, maintenance costs, and charging cost, whereas end-users had low concern for branding and resale value. Thematic analysis of qualitative data shows that the most significant themes were security, localization of the EVs industry, charging energy sources, and self-driving. These results may serve as a framework to replicate the study in other countries, taking relevant inherent factors into account.