Electric Mobility

The project

E-mobility is becoming increasingly popular. Still, Switzerland clearly lags behind other rich European countries in implementing policies to encourage electric and hybrid cars. In order to make mobility more energy efficient, policymakers have a wide portfolio of policies ranging from voluntary to mandatory. The goal of this research project is to assess public support for these policies since it is an important part of long-lasting behavioral change – such as buying and using more fuel-efficient vehicles. In order to assess public support, a survey experiment is conducted to measure the preferences of participants towards policies that stimulate e-mobility such as information campaigns, the promotion of charging stations or subsidies when buying e-cars. We also aim to uncover how attitudes towards policies that promote the diffusion of energy-efficient vehicles and towards the (un)desired characteristics of these cars can be changed through exposure to information and e-car test driving.

Moreover, e-mobility would change the spatial distribution of electric vehicles and the charging behavior of individuals. This imposes operational challenges on the level of the energy distribution grid as it leads to problems regarding congestion and voltage drop. Therefore, it is important to establish a link between energy and mobility by modeling the distribution level system and the transformation of future generation mix and demand patterns.