Analysis of Ownership and Travel Behavior of Women Who Drive Electric Vehicles: The case of Maryland
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This study aims to investigate the contributing socio-demographic characteristics and factors among female EV owners as well as their travel behavior, commuting trip patterns, and purchasing/leasing ownerships. The objective of the study is to recommend public policies to decision makers to prompt gender equity for EV purchase and use by identifying socio-demographic attributes that influence EV travel patterns and behavior.An online survey of EV owners of both sexes was conducted from May 28, 2015, to February 19, 2016. In total, 1,257 EV owners in Maryland completed usable surveys. A set of statistical analysis methods was employed to analyze the data. A set of correlation test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multinomial logit model (MNL) were constructed to examine the associations between EV owner characteristics and their EV purchasing/leasing and spatial commuting trip behavior, and the results have been compared to the spatial travel patterns of drivers of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in Maryland. The results of this study showed that first, socio-demographic factors, including education and income, played a significant role in preferences attributes of participants for purchasing/leasing an EV and in the commuting travel behavior and pattern and of EV drivers. Second, environmental issues are the main reason for purchasing/leasing EVs, but the EV owners who had longer commutes were more concerned about the price and status of the EV owner and efficiency and performance than were those with shorter commutes. The results of this study improve equity in transportation into the future and could be utilized by transportation authorities, transport investment agencies, and collaborators in developing and improving emerging transportation systems.
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