Parsa Pezeshknejad | PhD Candidate, University of Vermont

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Presentation Description

To equitably and effectively decarbonize transportation and transition to widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption, there is a need to address context-specific barriers to EV adoption among populations with fewer resources, particularly people with low income and renters. Residential chargers are the preferred charging option for most EV users, and a lack of access to convenient home charging is one critical obstacle to EV ownership faced by those with fewer economic resources. Furthermore, studies have shown that EV owners are predominantly high-income and white, signaling differences in EV adoption rates among those with fewer resources. Certain types of homes present challenges when it comes to installing home chargers. For example, those living in multifamily homes, older homes, and renters face unique barriers to installing home chargers that may extend beyond an individual’s economic constraints. Currently, little is known about how these home charging barriers and additional installation costs affect EV adoption. We evaluate relationships between EV adoption, home charger installation costs, housing characteristics, and sociodemographics. We first quantify the types and costs of electrical upgrades required to install EV home chargers for homes of different types, using electrical permit data from Burlington, Vermont. Second, we examine the likelihood of EV adoption for occupants of different types of homes using property characteristics and vehicle registration data in Burlington, Vermont. This analysis will enable us to understand how factors such as home ownership status, housing age, and dwelling type influence the likelihood of EV adoption. Lastly, we evaluate the sociodemographics of people living in housing types that pose a barrier to EV charging nationwide using US Census public use microdata sample (PUMS) data. Results will inform policies and future research to reduce inequitable access to EVs for those facing home charging barriers.
Keywords: transportation equity, electric vehicle, home charging, multifamily, renter, older home

Speaker Biography

Parsa Pezeshknejad is a Civil and Environmental Engineering PhD student. Parsa’s interests in transportation include evaluating public transportation systems, sustainable and transit-oriented development, pedestrian accessibility and safety, and EV adoption and its barriers. He is most passionate about sustainability and accessibility of pedestrian and public transportation. Parsa’s current PhD research at the TRC with Dr. Dana Rowangould evaluates the extent to which home charging is a barrier to buying an EV and what are the context-specific barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption among populations with fewer resources.

Co-presenters

Sarah Grajdura
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Vermont

Dana Rowangould
Assistant Professor, University of Vermont

Presentation File