This event is hosted by the Oxford Martin Programme on Complexity

Abstract: Global environmental policies have increased the need to understand how new energy innovations diffuse into the market. A central uncertainty is whether the market for new technologies such as electric vehicles can be sustained into the future. Policy needs to be better informed about the necessary conditions for successful market introduction and penetration of
new innovations. We investigate the coupled role of individual behaviour and social network influence on the adoption of electric vehicles. We find that network influence can have a positive effect on accelerating the diffusion of new energy innovations, but can be counteracted by individual risk adverse behaviour. Interestingly, indirect influence from the larger population can potentially have a greater effect than direct personal contacts on an individual. This implies a feedback between population and sub-population level signals on adoption behaviour which warrants further exploration as a mechanism to induce individual level change.

Speaker: Dr Martino Tran, James Martin Fellow, Institute for Carbon and Energy Reduction in Transport

All welcome and a sandwich lunch will be provided