An Analysis of Electric Vehicle Charging Intentions in Japan

Abstract

This study focuses on charging-related decisions for fast charging at highway service and parking areas, slow charging at home, fast charging at commercial facilities, and fast and slow charging at workplaces. This research contributes to the existing literature by estimating the charging behavior variables, as well as understanding the role of explanatory variables in influencing charging-related decisions. Responses from the stated preference (SP) survey in Japan in 2021 were analyzed with a mixed logit model (MXL). The results showed that, (1) when the battery level is 75% or higher, users of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are not keen to charge their vehicles, but when the next trip is anticipated to be 50 or more kilometers, they choose to charge their vehicles; (2) individuals are not willing to tolerate any waiting time for their vehicles to be charged at each location; and (3) the recurrence of charging at the target location affects the charging decision of BEV users. We found significant relationships between socioeconomic characteristics and charging decisions. Furthermore, we examined the practical applications of the empirical findings in this study for policymaking and charging infrastructure planning.