Rural vs. Urban: Discovering EV Adoption and Charging Trends Across Utah

Electric vehicle adoption is influenced by a variety of factors, which can also affect the charging habits of the EV users. One significant factor is the impact of a rural or urban settings on EV adoption and ownership. ASPIRE Researcher and Utah State University Associate Professor Patrick Singleton is investigating the characteristics of these contexts on EV adoption with help from Ph.D. Students Aleks Paskett and Fariba Soltani. 

“This work is based on an ASPIRE associated research project sponsored by the Utah Department of Transportation, with additional support from the National Science Foundation via ASPIRE,” Singleton explained. “The overall project’s objective was to help UDOT understand EV adoption and use in Utah, especially across urban-rural contexts, to inform EV-related policies and strategies, including the strategic placement of EV infrastructure such as charging stations.” 

To uncover the patterns of EV adoption and charging in Utah, Singleton and his team analyzed a public survey distributed by the state’s transportation agencies that asked questions to determine the impact of rural and urban locations on Utahns’ EV ownership. The survey results proved insightful, leading to successful presentations and future publication. 

On behalf of his Ph.D. candidate Fariba Soltani, Singleton presented their findings, entitled “Electric Vehicle Adoption in Urban and Rural Utah,” at the 2026 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. 

“For this particular presentation, we analyzed survey data from around 9,000 Utah households, studying the factors that influence both the number of personal automobiles each household owns, as well as whether or not at least one of them was either a battery EV or a plug-in hybrid EV,” Singleton explained. “Importantly, we also analyzed whether these influencing factors differed or were stronger or weaker in more rural vs. more urban areas.” 

As they hypothesized, results revealed that households with higher incomes and where someone had a college degree were more likely to own an EV. Those living in rental housing — as opposed to owning their own home — or with less access to public charging, were less likely to own an EV.  

“The one urban/rural difference was that urban households with more vehicles were more likely to have at least one EV, whereas the number of vehicles was not a significant influence on EV adoption for rural households,” said Singleton. “We speculate that this could reflect different motives for EV adoption: as a second (or third) vehicle in urban areas, but as a primary vehicle in rural areas.” 

In addition to this presentation at the TRB conference, where Singleton connected with several other transportation researchers, practitioners, and policymakers about electrification, USU Ph.D. Student Aleks Paskett has also analyzed the survey results, with a slightly different focus. 

“My work on this project was specifically focused on where EV users are charging their vehicles, and whether there’s a difference between urban and rural users,” Paskett said. 

His focus on the location of EV charging across Utah, analyzing over 4,200 trips across 790 travel days, revealed key insights into how and where EV users charge in different regions. 

“We had a couple of main insights from this work. First, EV users most often charge their vehicles at home, with workplaces being the next most common,” Paskett explained. “Urban users are more likely to have convenient opportunities to charge while travelling, while rural users had to be more strategic about stopping at charging stations. Additionally, households with better access to public charging are less likely to charge at home.” 

Their research findings were presented at the ASPIRE Project 3 meeting earlier this year, with plans to further present and publish this research in the works. These discoveries will help Utah plan for the future and effectively implement EV infrastructure. 

For the latest news, publications, and research highlights from ASPIRE, visit aspire.usu.edu. 

About ASPIRE: 

ASPIRE, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center headquartered at Utah State University, leads groundbreaking research and development to accelerate electrification. With over 400 global collaborators, ASPIRE focuses on creating seamless, affordable electrified transportation systems, accessible for all vehicle classes, along with the public infrastructure needed to support them. By reducing emissions, improving air quality, and fostering economic growth through job creation and workforce training, ASPIRE’s work spans engineering, social science, policy, and business. Partnering with top universities, industry leaders, and community groups, ASPIRE is driving the future of advanced transportation. Learn more at aspire.usu.edu. 

Contacts: 

Kat Webb
Content Director
Marketing & Communications 
ASPIRE ERC  

Writer: 

Kayleigh Kearsley 
Marketing & Communications Intern 
ASPIRE ERC