Paper short abstract:

This study examines the electric vehicle transition in Phoenix, using a socio-technical framework to understand infrastructure initiatives. The study further seeks to answer how the future of the EV transition will unfold in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the next five to ten years.

Paper long abstract:

The Future of Electric Vehicle Transition in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area

Electric vehicles are increasingly recognized as a key solution in the fight against climate change. However, existing scholarship often lacks a systemic perspective that integrates social dimensions, decision-making, and emerging technologies while simultaneously shaping the future of the EV transition.

To fill this gap, our study draws on a socio-technical transition framework to examine the complex interactions between social and technological elements and explore the mid-term stages of transition in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The study further seeks to answer how the future of the EV transition will unfold in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the next five to ten years.

We first aim to provide a holistic understanding of EV infrastructure deployment initiatives and then specifically examine the role of utility decision-making in promoting electric vehicle infrastructure deployment.

Our approach involves a comprehensive review of publicly available documents, such as EV strategic plans, climate action plans, and policy papers, to identify the key actors and organizations in the EV ecosystem. Furthermore, we will conduct twenty-five semi-structured interviews with selected stakeholders to gain deeper insights into the dynamics of the EV transition. Our preliminary results indicate that the EV landscape in the Phoenix Metro Area will likely be diverse and heterogeneous in the near term.

Keywords: Socio-technical Systems, EV Transition, EV Infrastructure Deployment