Abstract:

The briefing paper assesses the consumer proposition for battery electric vehicles across 25 most-populous metropolitan areas of United States in 2014, using data on fuel costs, electricity prices, and state and local policies. The consumer proposition for battery electric vehicles is specifically improving in cities with proactive electric vehicle support policies.  The paper concludes that battery electric vehicles are increasingly becoming competitive for average vehicle consumers. In addition to the fuel-saving benefits, policy support is priming the early market. Gaps in awareness, education, information, and model availability are restraining growth in the electric vehicle market. Extending electric vehicle policy incentives through 2020 is likely to be critical to sustaining market growth.