Estimating the demand for electric automobiles using fully disaggregated probabilistic choice analysis

This study uses probabilistic choice models to predict potential demand for electric cars. Survey data are employed to estimate separate utility functions for each of 51 subjects. This provides a sample distribution of consumer preferences for vehicle attributes including price, operating cost and range. The results indicate great diversity in individual trade-offs among attributes, with range and top speed generally being highly valued. The sample of utility functions is then used to predict potential market shares for various kinds of electric vehicles as second cars. Demand is quite limited, except when (a) electric cars are considerably more advanced than anything likely to be available in the near future, and (b) consumers fear massive gasoline shortages. The latter effect derives from an observed “bias” in favor of electric autos, which is plausibly interpreted as a hedge against disruptions in the gasoline market.