Environmental hypocrisy? Electric and hybrid vehicle adoption and pro-environmental attitudes in the United States.

This study explores environmental hypocrisy, wherein individuals or groups profess pro-environmental beliefs but engage in incongruent behaviors. This study investigates whether the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) in the United States reflects genuine concern for the environment or a form of environmental hypocrisy. It makes use of panel U.S. state-level data to examine how pro-environmental attitudes influence the adoption of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs), and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The study provides evidence of environmental hypocrisy, which is supported by the fact that U.S. states with a higher proportion of survey respondents expressing pro-environmental attitudes exhibit a reduced preference for HEVs. In addition, the adoption of PHEVs and PEVs does not correlate significantly with pro-environmental sentiments; rather, economic considerations emerge as the primary influencing factor. The policy recommendations offered depend on the specific focus of policymakers. For those aiming to boost EHV adoption through any means, the study suggests short-term measures aligning with individual preferences of EHV buyers. However, for those who seek to tackle environmental hypocrisy, it is essential to go beyond individual actions and consider collective and systemic changes that foster a genuine commitment to environmental responsibility over the long term. • Electric and hybrid vehicle adoptions can help reduce environmental emissions. • Study evaluates environmental hypocrisy in electric and hybrid vehicle adoption. • Pro-environmental attitudes correlate negatively with hybrid vehicle adoptions. • Economic, not environmental concerns, drive plug-in vehicle adoptions. • Short-term and long-term policies are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]