IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i9p3756-d1134672.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Women Will Drive the Demand for EVs in the Middle East over the Next 10 Years—Lessons from Today’s Kuwait and 1960s USA

Author

Listed:
  • Andri Ottesen

    (LSE Middle East Centre (MEC)—Sustainability Research and Consultancy (CSRC), Australian University (AU), West Mishref P.O. Box 1411, Kuwait)

  • Sumayya Banna

    (LSE Middle East Centre (MEC), Arab Open University (AOU), Ardiya P.O. Box 830, Kuwait)

  • Basil Alzougool

    (LSE Middle East Centre (MEC), Arab Open University (AOU), Ardiya P.O. Box 830, Kuwait)

Abstract

The Middle East, Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC), and Kuwait, in particular, are currently experiencing a similar transition as the USA in the 1970s regarding the empowerment and independence of women, fueled by a declining birth rate from four per women to less than two. In addition, the percentage of women with university degrees has been increasing at a logarithmic rate every decade since the 1960s in the USA and since 1990 in Kuwait, resulting in women comprising well over half of all university graduates. This has led to women obtaining better jobs and enjoying greater independence to make their own decisions. In the 1960s, Toyota and other Japanese car manufactures used this phenomenon to penetrate the US market, with significant success. Their selling points were lower maintenance requirements, higher reliability, safety, better environment friendliness and slicker interior designs, the last being especially adapted to women’s tastes. We believe that Chinese and Korean electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers will employ the same playbook with similar success, as the Middle East accelerates its readiness for the EV mainstream market. In this study, this prediction was supported by a quantitative questionnaire of 234 educated female Kuwaiti drivers from the ages of 18 to 40 in Kuwait regarding their preferences regarding EVs. The findings indicate that potential female buyers favor EVs for their environmental benefits, regardless of their demographics. Moreover, potential female consumers are highly willing to purchase EVs in the future under three conditions: infrastructure availability, environmental development, and affordability. We believe that this group, in particular, will present the greatest opportunity to EV manufacturers over the next 10 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Andri Ottesen & Sumayya Banna & Basil Alzougool, 2023. "Women Will Drive the Demand for EVs in the Middle East over the Next 10 Years—Lessons from Today’s Kuwait and 1960s USA," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:9:p:3756-:d:1134672
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/9/3756/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/9/3756/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kowalska-Pyzalska, Anna & Michalski, Rafał & Kott, Marek & Skowrońska-Szmer, Anna & Kott, Joanna, 2022. "Consumer preferences towards alternative fuel vehicles. Results from the conjoint analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    2. Gail Helen Broadbent & Graciela Isabel Metternicht & Thomas Oliver Wiedmann, 2021. "Increasing Electric Vehicle Uptake by Updating Public Policies to Shift Attitudes and Perceptions: Case Study of New Zealand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Hidab Hamwi & Tom Rushby & Mostafa Mahdy & AbuBakr S. Bahaj, 2022. "Effects of High Ambient Temperature on Electric Vehicle Efficiency and Range: Case Study of Kuwait," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-12, April.
    4. Fred D. Davis & Richard P. Bagozzi & Paul R. Warshaw, 1989. "User Acceptance of Computer Technology: A Comparison of Two Theoretical Models," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(8), pages 982-1003, August.
    5. Zulfiqar Ali Lashari & Joonho Ko & Junseok Jang, 2021. "Consumers’ Intention to Purchase Electric Vehicles: Influences of User Attitude and Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Cui, Lixin & Wang, Yonggui & Chen, Weiming & Wen, Wen & Han, Myat Su, 2021. "Predicting determinants of consumers' purchase motivation for electric vehicles: An application of Maslow's hierarchy of needs model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    7. Andri Ottesen & Sumayya Banna & Basil Alzougool, 2022. "Attitudes of Drivers towards Electric Vehicles in Kuwait," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    8. Li, Zhenhe & Khajepour, Amir & Song, Jinchun, 2019. "A comprehensive review of the key technologies for pure electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 824-839.
    9. Chanwit Kongklaew & Khamphe Phoungthong & Chanwit Prabpayak & Md. Shahariar Chowdhury & Imran Khan & Nuttaya Yuangyai & Chumpol Yuangyai & Kuaanan Techato, 2021. "Barriers to Electric Vehicle Adoption in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-13, November.
    10. Wojciech Rabiega & Artur Gorzałczyński & Robert Jeszke & Paweł Mzyk & Krystian Szczepański, 2021. "How Long Will Combustion Vehicles Be Used? Polish Transport Sector on the Pathway to Climate Neutrality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    11. Liao, Fanchao & Molin, Eric & Timmermans, Harry & van Wee, Bert, 2019. "Consumer preferences for business models in electric vehicle adoption," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 12-24.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yang, Zaoli & Li, Qin & Yan, Yamin & Shang, Wen-Long & Ochieng, Washington, 2022. "Examining influence factors of Chinese electric vehicle market demand based on online reviews under moderating effect of subsidy policy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    2. Gulnaz Ivanova & António Carrizo Moreira, 2023. "Antecedents of Electric Vehicle Purchase Intention from the Consumer’s Perspective: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    3. Andri Ottesen & Sumayya Banna & Basil Alzougool, 2022. "Attitudes of Drivers towards Electric Vehicles in Kuwait," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Theo Lieven & Beatrice Hügler, 2021. "Did Electric Vehicle Sales Skyrocket Due to Increased Environmental Awareness While Total Vehicle Sales Declined during COVID-19?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Catalin Vrabie, 2022. "Electric Vehicles Optimism versus the Energy Market Reality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, April.
    6. Roman Chinoracky & Natalia Stalmasekova & Tatiana Corejova, 2022. "Trends in the Field of Electromobility—From the Perspective of Market Characteristics and Value-Added Services: Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Konstantina Anastasiadou & Nikolaos Gavanas, 2022. "State-of-the-Art Review of the Key Factors Affecting Electric Vehicle Adoption by Consumers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-23, December.
    8. Rachana Vidhi & Prasanna Shrivastava & Abhishek Parikh, 2021. "Social and Technological Impact of Businesses Surrounding Electric Vehicles," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Christian Arnold & Kai-Ingo Voigt, 2019. "Determinants of Industrial Internet of Things Adoption in German Manufacturing Companies," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(06), pages 1-21, October.
    10. Philippe Cohard, 2020. "Information Systems Values: A Study of the Intranet in Three French Higher Education Institutions," Post-Print hal-02987225, HAL.
    11. Melih Engin & Fatih Gürses, 2019. "Adoption of Hospital Information Systems in Public Hospitals in Turkey: An Analysis with the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(06), pages 1-19, October.
    12. Xie, Yunkun & Li, Yangyang & Zhao, Zhichao & Dong, Hao & Wang, Shuqian & Liu, Jingping & Guan, Jinhuan & Duan, Xiongbo, 2020. "Microsimulation of electric vehicle energy consumption and driving range," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    13. Morosan, Cristian, 2016. "An empirical examination of U.S. travelers’ intentions to use biometric e-gates in airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 120-128.
    14. Lawrence Bunnell & Kweku-Muata Osei-Bryson & Victoria Y. Yoon, 0. "RecSys Issues Ontology: A Knowledge Classification of Issues for Recommender Systems Researchers," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-42.
    15. Abdesamad Zouine & Pierre Fenies, 2014. "The Critical Success Factors Of The ERP System Project: A Meta-Analysis Methodology," Post-Print hal-01419785, HAL.
    16. Chen, Jie & Wang, Ruochen & Ding, Renkai & Luo, Ding, 2024. "Matching design and numerical optimization of automotive thermoelectric generator system applied to range-extended electric vehicle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 370(C).
    17. Huang, Youlin & Qian, Lixian, 2021. "Consumer adoption of electric vehicles in alternative business models," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    18. Luke Butcher & Ian Phau & Min Teah, 2016. "Brand prominence in luxury consumption: Will emotional value adjudicate our longing for status?," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(6), pages 701-715, November.
    19. Ahmed Ibrahim Alzahrani & T. Ramayah & Nalini Suppiah & Osama Alfarraj & Nasser Alalwan, 2020. "Modeling Blog Usage From a Developing Country Perspective Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.
    20. Harasis, Salman & Khan, Irfan & Massoud, Ahmed, 2024. "Enabling large-scale integration of electric bus fleets in harsh environments: Possibilities, potentials, and challenges," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:9:p:3756-:d:1134672. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.