Electric cars are still such a novelty that little is known about their
owners and how they use the vehicles. But recent research is beginning
to unlock some of the mysteries.
Plug-in vehicles—those that run entirely on battery power or that
combine electric and gasoline drives—represent less than 1% of total
U.S. vehicle sales, but in the past three years their numbers have grown
rapidly. Sales nearly tripled in 2012 and are on track to nearly double
this year, according to the Electric Drive Transportation Association, a
trade group.
Since 2009, the EV Project—financed with grants from the U.S. Energy Department and operated by
Ecotality
Inc.,
a maker of electric charging stations—has been collecting and
analyzing data from more than 8,000 drivers of electric vehicles.
Among the findings: Owners of electric cars drive less,
possibly because they are using electric vehicles primarily for short
trips, to work or the grocery. Or it may be that they fear running out
of juice. A separate survey found that limited range caused many EV
owners to avoid longer or discretionary trips—to the movie theater or to
visit friends, for instance.
The EV Project's data also shows
that buyers of plug-in vehicles are relatively more affluent than the
average motorist. That reflects the cost of the vehicles: General Motors
Co.'s gas-and-electric Chevrolet Volt costs around $40,000, while the
all-electric Nissan Leaf sells for about $30,000. Owners are also more
likely to be "greener"—a large portion of electric-car buyers report
having solar panels.
The results are important for the utilities
that build, maintain and operate the power grid. EV Project data show
that owners of electric vehicles tend to cluster in the same
neighborhoods and plug in at similar times—usually in the evening. This
can increase the load on a single transformer significantly, and lead to
the equipment aging more quickly, as well as to power outages.
—Yuliya Chernova
Email: yuliya.chernova@wsj.com
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324123004579055112450200336
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