Why do some drivers hesitate to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) while others remain fiercely loyal? To answer this, a research team led by Associate Professor Qing Li from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology and Associate Professor Feixiong Liao from Eindhoven University of Technology developed a novel hybrid framework to dissect the complex psychological mechanisms behind vehicle replacement.
The team published their study in Communications in Transportation Research (https://doi.org/10.26599/COMMTR.2026.9640019).
"As the EV market matures, the focus shifts from first-time adopters to the replacement of existing private cars," says Qing Li. "We found that the reasons a fuel vehicle (FV) owner switches to an EV are fundamentally different from the reasons an existing EV owner chooses to stay with the technology. We call this 'behavioral asymmetry'.
Pragmatism vs. Habit: A Tale of Two Owners
The study utilized a comprehensive "Push-Pull-Mooring" (PPM) model, surveying 803 vehicle owners in China—a global leader in EV penetration. The results highlight a sharp contrast in decision-making pathways:
For fuel vehicle owners, the decision to switch is highly pragmatic. They are primarily pulled by tangible benefits such as lower operating costs (price value) and the availability of charging infrastructure (facilitating conditions). Interestingly, dissatisfaction with their current fuel car was not a direct driver.
In contrast, EV owners are anchored by mooring factors. Their intention to continue using EVs is heavily driven by established habits, such as daily charging routines and regenerative braking mechanics, and a wider network of social influence and performance expectations.
The research suggests that the negativity bias often seen in technology switching, where people only move when they are unhappy, does not strictly apply here. Instead, EVs are seen as a logical upgrade for those who already value their transportation experience.
"Our findings call for segment-specific strategies," explains Feixiong Liao. "To convert fuel vehicle owners, policymakers and manufacturers must emphasize the 'total cost of ownership' and bridge the infrastructure gap. To retain EV owners, the focus should shift toward building brand communities and reinforcing the convenience of the electric lifestyle."
The team hopes this research will provide a roadmap for accelerating global transport decarbonization by targeting the specific psychological triggers of different consumer segments.
DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/COMMTR.2026.9640019
About Communications in Transportation Research
Communications in Transportation Research was launched in 2021, with academic support provided by Tsinghua University and China Intelligent Transportation Systems Association. The Editors-in-Chief are Professor Xiaobo Qu, a member of the Academia Europaea from Tsinghua University, and Professor Xiaopeng (Shaw) Li from University of Wisconsin–Madison. The journal mainly publishes high-quality, original research and review articles that are of significant importance to emerging transportation systems, aiming to serve as an international platform for showcasing and exchanging innovative achievements in transportation and related fields, fostering academic exchange and development between China and the global community.
It has been indexed in SCIE, SSCI, Ei Compendex, Scopus, CSTPCD, CSCD, OAJ, DOAJ, TRID and other databases. It was selected as Q1 Top Journal in the Engineering and Technology category of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Journal Ranking List. In 2022, it was selected as a High-Starting-Point new journal project of the “China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan”. In 2024, it was selected as the Support the Development Project of “High-Level International Scientific and Technological Journals”. The same year, it was also chosen as an English Journal Tier Project of the “China Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan Phase Ⅱ”. In 2024, it received the first impact factor (2023 IF) of 12.5, ranking Top1 (1/58, Q1) among all journals in "TRANSPORTATION" category. In 2026, its 2025 IF was announced as 12.7, maintaining the Top1 position (1/66, Q1) in the same category.
From Volume 6 (2026), Communications in Transportation Research will be published by Tsinghua University Press on the SciOpen platform with the official journal website at https://www.sciopen.com/journal/2097-5023 . We kindly request that all new manuscript submissions be made through the journal’s submission system at https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/commtr . For any submission-related inquiries, please contact the Editorial Office at commtr_e@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn .
Communications in Transportation Research
Push−pull−mooring framework for understanding heterogeneous electric vehicle replacement intentions
30-Jun-2026