Abstract:

Research examining electric vehicle (EV) adoption intent is growing but neglects rideshare drivers (e.g., Uber and Lyft), who drive up to 13% of all miles driven in metropolitan areas. The study compares rideshare drivers and commuters on symbolic and instrumental attribute perceptions of electric vehicles (EVs). It suggests that rideshare drivers may have stronger symbolic attribute ratings due to extended vehicle viewing, while commuters may perceive vehicles in primarily instrumental terms due to work use. The research tested these hypotheses using a survey of 136 drivers and 378 commuters. Relative to commuters, rideshare drivers rated symbolic attributes higher and EV maintenance costs somewhat more favorably, but significantly fewer had access to a charging spot. A regression model found that both instrumental and symbolic attributes positively predicted EV adoption intent for both groups. Relative to commuters, symbolic attributes were weaker predictors of EV adoption intent among rideshare drivers, whereas instrumental attributes, particularly perceptions that the purchase cost of an EV was lower than that of a gasoline car, were stronger.