Preparing for the Roll-Out of Electric Vehicles: Exploring how cities can become plug-in ready

Abstract: The mass production of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) is expected to start in the coming years. Climate change, peak oil and the automotive and economic crisis have put a significant pressure on the current transportation regime. Increasing urbanisation, range and efficiency advantages of PEVs in city traffic and the problem of urban air pollution have moved cities into the focus of PEV dissemination. Three case studies were conducted in this research to analyse the functioning of PEV systems in cities. Different functions like knowledge development, market formation and resource mobilization are analysed and discussed. The main critical issues around PEVs like range, cost, and environmental performance are investigated in a city context, and corresponding recommendations for cities to become plug-in ready are outlined.