Boring and inadequate? A literature review considering the use of electric vehicles in drive tourism

Abstract

Electric vehicle tourism is increasingly becoming a realistic prospect for drivers. There has, however, been little research focused on EV tourism. This paper discusses the results of a comprehensive narrative literature review. It suggests that the current paucity of literature is, at least in part, a consequence of two questionable assumptions; first, that EVs are inadequate for tourism travel, and second that they are unlikely to result in substantial changes to drive tourism. This paper challenges these assumptions and explores instrumental, infrastructural, symbolic, and experiential aspects of EV tourism. It suggests that a shift to EVs could prompt instrumental changes to the kinds of trips tourists take, their destinations, rhythms, and planning. It discusses infrastructure upgrades, including consideration of complex financial concerns. It explores possible changes in the symbolic associations between cars and leisure travel and other elements of social life. Finally, it discusses embodied and experiential aspects of drive tourism, including their consequences for safety. A shift to EV tourism is very likely, and very unlikely to leave drive tourism unchanged. This paper therefore argues that it is time to move beyond perceptions that EVs are boring and inadequate, and to take seriously the possibilities for EV tourism research.