Measuring and Modelling Electric Vehicle Adoption of Indian Consumers

Advancements in energy-efficient sustainable mobility technologies like electric vehicles are considered as one of the essential responses to minimizing the greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. In spite of financial and non-financial incentives being provided to both consumers and manufacturers in India, the acceptance and adoption of electric vehicles remains very low. Based on the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model, this study uses structural equation modelling to analyze the effects of eight factors viz. environmental enthusiasm, technological enthusiasm, anxiety (or perceived risk), social image, social influence, perceived benefits, performance expectancy and facilitating conditions on the consumers’ intention to adopt electric vehicles. The study is analytically examined based on the data obtained from 675 students in Bengaluru, India. Results indicate that environmental enthusiasm, technological enthusiasm, social image, social influence, perceived benefits, and performance expectancy are positively related to adoption intention whereas facilitating conditions and anxiety have negative influence on a consumer’s intention to adopt an electric vehicle. This study adds to the limited literature on this subject in the context of developing economies. In practice, the results from this study can be useful to planners and policy makers to improve the adoption rate of electric vehicles.