Economics and Decision-making in the Transition to Electric Vehicles

Co-chair: Eric Hittinger, Univ of Lille, France
Co-chair: John Helveston, George Washington Univ, United States

Call For Papers

The transportation sector is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gases (GHG), exceeding even electricity system emissions in most developed countries. The 2016 IEA report on Mobility indicates that rapid adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs, including plug-in hybrids and battery electrics) is essential to limit global warming to 2°C. Political interest in EVs is also growing, with a variety of policies that range from bans on thermal vehicles to mandated PEV sales quotas. Successfully achieving this transition requires more than just technical solutions. A rapid shift towards EVs requires an understanding of vehicle economics and consumer preferences, informed policy support, new infrastructure, and an understanding of how these different elements interact.

This special session is focused on the economics and decision-making (both at the policymaker level and the consumer level) relating to the transition to PEVs. The session seeks novel, interdisciplinary research. Analyses that relate policy or economic analysis back to technical characteristics of vehicles are of particular interest. Analyses from a variety of perspectives are invited, including elements of economics/finance, behavior or consumer decision-making, policy analysis, or environmental benefit-cost analysis. Submissions may be focused on either prospective modeling or characterization/measurement of the topic.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Modeling and forecasting of demand for electric vehicles.
• Policy analysis focused on understanding the expected effects of specific policies on vehicle fleet adoption, use, or emissions.
• Techno-economic analysis that seeks to understand the relationship between plug-in electric vehicles and other infrastructure systems (ex.: electricity, fuels).

Applications of interest:

This special session will present interdisciplinary work that couples technical elements with economics and decision-making to improve our understanding of the obstacles and opportunities in the transition to plug-in electric vehicles.

All special session digests must be prepared and submitted in the same way as those for the conference regular tracks, except that the corresponding special session should be identified during submission.

Eric Hittinger holds a BSE in Polymer Science and Engineering and a MS in Macromolecular Science from Case Western Reserve University and a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Hittinger is currently a Visiting Researcher with the Laboratoire D’Electrotechnique et D’Electronique de Puissance (L2EP) at the University of Lille and holds an appointment as an Associate Professor in Public Policy and Affiliated Faculty at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology. Professor Hittinger has a background in electricity technology policy, operation, and economics, with a focus on understanding the benefits and limitations of emerging technologies, including energy storage, electric vehicles, and renewable electricity sources.  Before entering the energy field, he was a Project Management Engineer for the US Army, with extensive travel to support military operations abroad. He is currently managing the TESS (Technical Economical Study of Sustainable campuses based on electro-mobility) project of the CUMIN (Campus of University with Mobility based on Innovation and carbon Neutral) of University of Lille.

John Helveston holds a BS in Engineering Science & Mechanics from Virginia Tech and a MS and PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at the George Washington University. His research focuses on understanding the factors that shape technological change, with a particular focus on transitioning to more sustainable and energy-saving technologies. Within this broader category, he studies consumer preferences and market demand for new technologies as well as relationships between innovation, industry structure, and technology policy. He has explored these themes in the context of China’s rapidly developing electric vehicle industry. He applies an interdisciplinary approach to research, with expertise in discrete choice modeling and conjoint analysis as well as interview-based case studies.

Submission Deadline: 8 June 2020
Acceptance notification: 17 July 2020
Final paper submission deadline: 7 August 2020

To submit papers for this Special Session, please visit:
https://vppc2020.trackchair.com/track/1920