In a newly published research titled ‘Consumer purchase intentions for electric vehicles: Is green more important than price and range?’ Dr Degirmenci discovered that environmental performance was actually an even stronger predictor of purchase intention over range confidence and price.
The research was based on interviews with 40 consumers and a survey with 167 people who took part in test drives with plug-in battery electric vehicles in Germany.
“We found the majority of participants placed great emphasis on the need for electricity for electric vehicles to be produced from renewable energy sources in order for them to be a true alternative,” he said.
Dr Degirmenci said when analyzing greenhouse gas emissions, it was imperative to bear in mind the difference between on-road emissions only considering the fuel used, and well-to-wheel emissions including all emissions connected to fuel production, distribution, processing, and use.
For example, a petrol-driven vehicle produces 119 g CO2-e/km, of which most are on-road emissions. In comparison, an electric vehicle produces zero on-road emissions. However, if electricity is generated from coal to charge an electric vehicle it produces 139g CO2-e/km well-to-wheel emissions, compared with only 9 g CO2-e/km well-to-wheel emissions with electricity from renewable energy sources.
Dr Kenan Degirmenci, QUT Business School
Dr Degirmenci stated the research findings were applicable to Australia because the transport industry accounted for 16% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, and 85 % of these were produced by road transport.
“In this regard, a transition from conventional combustion vehicles to electric vehicles has the potential to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions substantially, if that electricity is produced from renewable energy sources,” Dr Degirmenci said.