Gaia Cervini

Research co-authored by Gaia Cervini (MSCE 2022, PhD 2026), Lavan Teja Burra, and CCE faculty Jinha Jung & Nadia Gkritza on the effect of environmental conditions on battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption has been published in Sustainable Mobility and Transport, a Nature partner journal.

Using ZIP code-level data across 12 U.S. states and more than 25,000 observations, the researchers found that BEV penetration is strongly associated with local temperature patterns. BEV adoption tends to be higher in thermally stable regions, while large temperature swings and prolonged cold exposure are associated with lower adoption rates.

The results highlight an often-overlooked reality of transportation electrification: technology adoption does not occur in a vacuum. Environmental conditions shape consumer experience, perceptions, and ultimately market outcomes.

Funding for this project was provided by the ASPIRE NSF Engineering Research Center.