Leveraging user-based innovation in vehicle-to-X and vehicle-to-grid adoption: A Nordic case study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Leveraging user-based innovation in vehicle-to-X and vehicle-to-grid adoption

T2 - A Nordic case study

AU - Noel, Lance

AU - Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo

AU - Kester, Johannes

AU - Sovacool, Benjamin K.

PY - 2021/3

Y1 - 2021/3

N2 - While vehicle-to-grid technology could provide substantial benefits to consumers and society, its adoption has been confined to a niche and relatively stagnant. In this article, we study the role of user-based innovations in increasing the acceptance and adoption of niche technologies such as vehicle-to-grid. To do so, we connect three interrelated concepts—tinkering, testing and tacit knowledge—and then theorize how they interact in three theories—diffusion of innovation, social construction of technology, and the multi-level perspective. Drawing from a rich set of original data, we then apply the theorization of user-based innovation to the adoption of vehicle-to-grid in the Nordic region, by focusing on how users can influence an emerging state-of-the-art innovation, vehicle-to-X. We find that the three concepts of tinkering, testing, and tacit knowledge should be encouraged in order to accelerate and stabilize the adoption of vehicle-to-grid. We conclude the study by examining how the theorization of tinkering may benefit the understanding of other technologies’ diffusion pathways and recommend directions for future research.

AB - While vehicle-to-grid technology could provide substantial benefits to consumers and society, its adoption has been confined to a niche and relatively stagnant. In this article, we study the role of user-based innovations in increasing the acceptance and adoption of niche technologies such as vehicle-to-grid. To do so, we connect three interrelated concepts—tinkering, testing and tacit knowledge—and then theorize how they interact in three theories—diffusion of innovation, social construction of technology, and the multi-level perspective. Drawing from a rich set of original data, we then apply the theorization of user-based innovation to the adoption of vehicle-to-grid in the Nordic region, by focusing on how users can influence an emerging state-of-the-art innovation, vehicle-to-X. We find that the three concepts of tinkering, testing, and tacit knowledge should be encouraged in order to accelerate and stabilize the adoption of vehicle-to-grid. We conclude the study by examining how the theorization of tinkering may benefit the understanding of other technologies’ diffusion pathways and recommend directions for future research.

KW - Electric mobility

KW - Sustainability transitions

KW - Tinkering

KW - User-based innovation

KW - Vehicle-to-grid

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098452885&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125591

DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125591

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85098452885

SN - 0959-6526

VL - 287

JO - Journal of Cleaner Production

JF - Journal of Cleaner Production

M1 - 125591

ER -