A recent study conducted at UC San Diego is exploring how various types of information and incentives can influence electric vehicle (EV) drivers to charge their vehicles at optimal times. Nearly 900 volunteer drivers participated in randomized experiments to determine the best strategies for promoting timely charging behavior.
According to David Victor, a professor and chair at the Peter Cowhey Center on Global Transformation, the current challenge lies in changing human behavior to align with the needs of a zero-emission electric vehicle fleet. “With an EV, you”re competing against the gasoline car and the gasoline car experience, which is generally a positive, known routine for the driver,” Victor explains. He emphasizes the efficiency of EV charging during periods of peak renewable energy generation, which not only reduces costs but also mitigates the necessity for additional energy storage systems.
The study, which is a collaboration between the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Jacobs School of Engineering, is part of UC San Diego”s Deep Decarbonization Initiative and the Center for Energy Research. Victor notes, “The EV revolution will hinge on human behavior,” indicating a significant gap in understanding what factors will effectively motivate changes in charging practices.
The findings from this research could play a crucial role in the transition to electric vehicles, as they aim to leverage the existing university network to enhance scientific knowledge about the intersection of economics and psychology in energy consumption.
