Electric vehicles and driving behavior: evidence from Swedish register and GPS data

We examine whether electric vehicle (EV) users differ from internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) users in real-world driving behavior, and whether observed patterns arise from trip frequency, trip length, or car and user characteristics. Using evidence from Sweden—a mature EV market—we use register data on annual vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT) alongside multi-month GPS travel diaries capturing daily mobility patterns. Register-based estimates indicate that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have 13–17 % higher annual VKT than comparable ICEVs. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also exhibit higher annual VKT, although the differences are smaller and more sensitive to controls for car characteristics. GPS data show similar patterns: BEV users drive longer daily distances but do not make more trips, whereas the corresponding estimates for PHEVs are generally statistically insignificant. Overall, the higher VKT among EVs may reflect selection into EV adoption or behavioral responses consistent with lower perceived marginal driving costs.