Public Charging Preferences for Long Distance Electric Vehicle Travel: A Stated Choice Experiment Among Experienced and non-Experienced Users

This study delves into the critical aspect of public charging in driving the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Understanding the factors that influence public charging decisions, especially from the perspectives of experienced and non-experienced users, holds key importance for two main reasons: first, it can improve the perception of public charging, enticing more users to utilize public chargers; second, it can expedite the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs for current non-EV users. Conducted in Indiana, this research employed a stated choice (SC) experiment, presenting respondents with various scenarios for long distance EV trips. The data was then analyzed using a mixed logit model to identify the key factors influencing charging choices for both experienced and non-experienced EV users. The results indicate that while both groups display similar overall charging preferences, the impact and significance of specific factors differ between the two groups. For instance, the availability of amenities plays a significant role for non-experienced users, whereas it has less influence on experienced EV users. Understanding these nuanced preferences can aid policymakers in crafting targeted guidelines to enhance public charging utilization and attract a wider base of EV adopters.