Over 1.2 million electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the United States last year, making up 16% of light-duty vehicle sales. The drive to electrify the automotive industry is apparent in urban and suburban areas, but rural communities remain underrepresented. The absence of EVs and charging infrastructure in rural areas underlines a critical research gap in understanding rural EV purchasing intentions. Investigating influential purchasing factors in rural areas is essential to understanding the EV landscape in the United States. Our study leveraged both address-specific EV registration data in the state of Tennessee and demographic and household data in the American Consumer Survey. Factors like income, education, and housing characteristics are evaluated to assess their influence on EV ownership in rural Tennessee areas. Spatial analysis techniques are utilized to capture the geographic distribution of EV ownership and its proximity to key EV charging station infrastructure. Regional clustering and localized demographic patterns are examined to better understand the spatial and economic factors driving EV adoption in rural areas. The analysis provides a clearer understanding of the dynamics shaping EV adoption in Tennessee’s diverse rural regions. Findings offer valuable guidance for developing EV adoption methods for rural areas and targeted policies and infrastructure investments that address the unique needs of rural communities. This research helps to bridge the rural-urban divide in EV accessibility and supports Tennessee’s leadership in sustainable transportation.
