Net zero-emission targets will require widespread adoption of fully electric vehicles by private motorists but there are significant social and economic barriers that will have to be overcome to make this a reality. Motorists’ fears about the availability of charging points, running out of power on long journeys, and lengthy waiting times to top up the battery (collectively known as “range anxiety”) are often cited as the main obstacle. But the bigger problem is the high upfront capital cost of buying fully electric vehicles compared with hybrids and traditional gasoline and diesel-fuelled cars, which is a major barrier for middle and lower-income households. Seventy years of research into the diffusion of innovations and new technologies has shown early adopters usually have more social and economic advantages (“Diffusion of innovations”, […]