Understanding the influence of in-vehicle information systems on range stress - Insights from an electric vehicle field experiment

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) drivers frequently report concerns of becoming stranded as a result of battery depletion, widely referred to as range stress, which constitutes a main obstacle to the adoption of these vehicles. One promising solution identified to mitigate range stress is to provide appropriate and accurate information through in-vehicle information systems (IVISs). Therefore, we aim to gain a broader understanding on the influence of specific IVISs on drivers' range stress perception. To accomplish this, we performed a BEV field experiment in real traffic situations. By placing participants in a critical range situation, we could measure their psychometric range appraisal and psychophysiological feedback. The results of the psychometric evaluation revealed that individuals perceived the critical range situation as less challenging and threatening with the provided IVISs. Physiological indicators were found to be useful in complementing questionnaire-based evaluation methods within the field of range stress. Although the findings of the psychophysiological measurement revealed that IVISs-equipped participants exhibited increases in stress perception over time due to volatile range feedback, the average stress level was observed to be lower throughout the entire driving task. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.