Who’s Driving Electric Cars: Understanding Consumer Adoption and Use of Plug-in Electric Cars

This book offers a comprehensive yet accessible snapshot of the latest consumer research on the adoption and use of electric vehicles. It discusses the importance of developing a better understanding of consumer behavior in relation to electric vehicles, and the advantages that can be gained from the growing number of electric vehicle users, who can now be studied directly. In turn, it systematically analyzes the leading markets for electric vehicles in North America, Europe and Asia.

Bringing together the experience and expertise of authoritative researchers and practicing professionals, the book shares a wide range of empirical data obtained at the national level and summarizes the general lessons learned. The last part of the book discusses policy-relevant insights, forecasts the future evolution of the field in terms of methods and data availability, and addresses several key questions that policymakers and other stakeholders are currently facing.

Marcello Contestabile completed an MSc in Environmental Technology and a PhD in Energy Policy and Technology, both at the Imperial College London.  Later, he served as a Research Fellow at the Imperial College Centre for Energy Policy and Technology (ICEPT). Since 2019, he has been a Principal Economist at the Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI), where he has led techno-economic and policy research activities concerning electric vehicles and charging infrastructures.

Visiting Fellow at the Imperial College Centre for Energy Policy and Technology (ICEPT) in London, Marcello has over 15 years of experience in techno-economic assessment and policy analysis for low carbon vehicles, particularly battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles,and for related infrastructures. He has been working in research organizations and governmental bodies as a researcher and consultant. During his time at ICEPT, he held multiple grants from the National Research Council, the European Commission and industry, and was seconded to the UK Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles. Further, Marcello worked as a Managing Consultant at E4tech, where he provided the UK government with expert advice on industrial policy for electric vehicles.