New research assesses the reasons behind ‘discontinuance’ of electric vehicle (EV) ownership in California. That is, people who have abandoned the new technology, after first purchasing a car propelled by electricity.
Using a series of questionnaire surveys, researchers have found that, ‘discontinuance in California occurs at a rate of 20% for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle owners and 18% for battery electric vehicle owners.’ These are serious rejection statistics.
There are five main reasons behind these decisions to stop using electric vehicles. These are: dissatisfaction with the inconvenience of charging; having other vehicles in the household that are less efficient; not having level 2 (240-volt) charging at home; having fewer household vehicles, and, wait for it, ‘not being male’.
No further explanation was provided. As they say, what Californians do today, the rest of us are likely to be copying tomorrow.