Publication Detail
Emerging Technology Zero Emission Vehicle Household Travel and Refueling Behavior
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UCD-ITS-RR-21-28 Research Report Electric Vehicle Research Center Available online at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2v0853tp |
Suggested Citation:
Tal, Gil, Vaishnavi Karanam, Matthew Favetti, Katrina M. Sutton, Jade M. Ogunmayin, Seshadri Srinivasa Raghavan, Christopher Nitta, Debapriya Chakraborty, Adam Davis, Dahlia Garas (2021) Emerging Technology Zero Emission Vehicle Household Travel and Refueling Behavior. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-21-28
Results from this report highlight how alternative fuel vehicles are used based on data collected between 2015 and 2020. Alternative fuel vehicles include plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), vehicles that are either battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). This category of vehicle technologies is included in the California Air Resources Board’s Zero Emission Vehicle regulations and is referred to as ZEV in this report. We explore the environmental impacts of driving, charging behavior and infrastructure. In households with ZEVs, the data from surveys, loggers, and interviews indicate that those vehicles are being used extensively. This report, which combined the data collected in two consecutive studies between 2015-2020, includes first and second generation PEVs popular in California between 2011-2018. The BEVs include the first-generation, short-range Nissan Leaf and the long range BEVs such as the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model S. The PHEVs include short range sedans such as the Toyota Prius Plug-in and longer-range vehicles such as the Toyota Prius Prime, Chevrolet Volt and Chrysler Pacifica. The FCVs include the most popular fuel cell vehicle, the Toyota Mirai.
In replacing household gasoline miles with electric miles, the results of this study suggest a significant difference of this driving behavior according to vehicle range and battery size. While we cannot say that this driving behavior is directly influenced by vehicle characteristics such as range, size, and performance, we can, however, observe the trends in driving behavior of participants who own the same vehicles. For example, it is important to note that longer-range PHEV users in this study had the tendency to plug in their vehicle more and achieve higher electric vehicle miles traveled (eVMT). It is also plausible that similarities in driving behavior between users who own similar vehicles are coincidental, since infrastructure availability and other variables aside from vehicle characteristics could be the main variables in vehicle performance.
Overall, the results suggest, as expected, that longer-range PEVs have more electrified miles than those of shorter range PEVs. However, to maximize the impact of PEVs, a full set of policies is needed to address charging behavior and vehicle purchase. FCVs in our sample are being used for long commutes, but not on long road trips, based on local refueling infrastructure deployment. The results in this report point to factors that affect the environmental impact of ZEVs, including charging behavior, household fleet composition, vehicle usage, and more. Further research is necessary to shape policies that lead to more sustainable transportation and ZEV usage. The household analysis suggests that longer-range ZEVs can reduce the environmental impact of transportation, however future households may move to two ZEVs; combining BEVs or FCVs with PHEVs, or short-range BEVs with long-range BEVs, which would significantly increase the electrification of miles at the household level. The report’s main limitation is the sample size of logged households.
Key words: zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), driving behavior, vehicle range, battery size, survey, electrified miles
In replacing household gasoline miles with electric miles, the results of this study suggest a significant difference of this driving behavior according to vehicle range and battery size. While we cannot say that this driving behavior is directly influenced by vehicle characteristics such as range, size, and performance, we can, however, observe the trends in driving behavior of participants who own the same vehicles. For example, it is important to note that longer-range PHEV users in this study had the tendency to plug in their vehicle more and achieve higher electric vehicle miles traveled (eVMT). It is also plausible that similarities in driving behavior between users who own similar vehicles are coincidental, since infrastructure availability and other variables aside from vehicle characteristics could be the main variables in vehicle performance.
Overall, the results suggest, as expected, that longer-range PEVs have more electrified miles than those of shorter range PEVs. However, to maximize the impact of PEVs, a full set of policies is needed to address charging behavior and vehicle purchase. FCVs in our sample are being used for long commutes, but not on long road trips, based on local refueling infrastructure deployment. The results in this report point to factors that affect the environmental impact of ZEVs, including charging behavior, household fleet composition, vehicle usage, and more. Further research is necessary to shape policies that lead to more sustainable transportation and ZEV usage. The household analysis suggests that longer-range ZEVs can reduce the environmental impact of transportation, however future households may move to two ZEVs; combining BEVs or FCVs with PHEVs, or short-range BEVs with long-range BEVs, which would significantly increase the electrification of miles at the household level. The report’s main limitation is the sample size of logged households.
Key words: zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), driving behavior, vehicle range, battery size, survey, electrified miles