There is a pressing need to develop a place-specific understanding of the factors that affect the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impacts of vehicle electrification. Prior research indicates that the GHG benefits of vehicle electrification depend on the composition of vehicles in a household, vehicle attributes, how they are used, how they are charged, the share of miles that are electric (utility factor), and the efficiency of vehicles. While limited evidence suggests that electric vehicle use, charging, and GHG benefits may differ in rural contexts, cold climates, and mountainous regions, little is known about how their use and performance differs in these contexts, or how to modify vehicle electrification policies and programs to ensure greater GHG benefits of vehicle electrification. This study will collect real-world driving data in the mountainous and largely rural northern state of Vermont to determine how plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) use and performance differ across these contexts and for different vehicle types. A household survey and on-board Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring devices will be used to evaluate vehicle use, vehicle and household utility factors, electric range, and efficiency, as well as implications for use and utility factors of future electric vehicle adopters. Findings from this research are critical to informing vehicle incentive programs and public charging investments to ensure that PEV adoption reduces GHGs in a broader range of contexts.
