Project Summary
Ridehailing drivers face a distinct and underexplored set of barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption — shaped by high mileage demands, mid-shift charging needs, limited charger access, and unfamiliarity with available incentives and support— that quantitative methods alone cannot fully capture. This project addresses that gap through in-depth interviews with 30–50 California ridehailing drivers recruited from a prior CARB-sponsored survey, representing targeted segments defined by driving intensity, income reliance, EV experience, charging access, and residence in equity priority communities. Using reflexive thematic analysis with structured cross-segment comparison, the project surfaces drivers’ decision-making processes, lived experiences, and views on policy support — insights directly informing the design of the Driver Assistance Program (DAP) under California’s Clean Miles Standard (CMS). Findings will help refine the DAP’s survey instruments, targeting strategies, incentive structures, and equity approaches, advancing California’s electrification targets while ensuring vulnerable driver populations are not left behind. The research team brings established relationships with CARB, CPUC, Uber, Lyft, the Center for Sustainable Energy, and CALSTART, ensuring findings are actionable and grounded in real-world implementation contexts. Results will be disseminated through a policy brief, webinar, and peer-reviewed journal article.
