A greener Kuwait:how electric vehicles can lower CO2 emissions

This paper investigates the early adopter market for electric vehicles (EVs) as preamble for mass adoption of EVs as a tool to help Kuwait lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meet climate policy standards. From interviews and surveys conducted, we found major trends preventing EVs from mass adoption and conclude with a series of recommendations for the Kuwaiti government that would help EV market in Kuwait to develop their mass market appeal, thus lowering current GHG emissions and fulfil international and national commitments towards sustainability. Open-ended interviews were conducted with all automobile dealers in Kuwait selling EVs as well as with 10 current EV owners, in addition to a quantitative 600-participant survey of mostly 18 to 40-year-old drivers of conventional cars. The survey focuses on whether participants were likely to purchase an EV as their next vehicle and under what circumstances. More than half of the participants indicated they were likely to purchase EVs if there were more fast charging stations readily available, if the price of EVs was comparable to conventional vehicles and if gasoline prices increased relative to electricity. Additionally, they would need to have a battery warranty for the duration of the vehicle. Based on the interviews and surveys, the paper presents ten reasons for the current low rate of EV adoption in Kuwait as well as recommendation for improvements.