EXPLAINING THE ADOPTION OF EV POLICIES IN OIL-RICH COUNTRIES

Abstract

Abstract: Electric Vehicles (EVs) may be regarded as better alternative to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles; as such, few countries including oil-rich ones have begun implementation of policies that will favour its uptake and render ICE vehicles less attractive to purchase or use. However, our understanding of how oil-rich countries may contend with the adoption of EV policies is limited. We argue that oil as a natural resource cannot by itself hinder the adoption of EV friendly policies and that one has to look elsewhere like economic and governance elements to explain policy adoption. In this study, we consider two oil-rich countries (United Arab Emirates and Nigeria) to explain EV policy adoption.