IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i3p1284-d1332320.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Predicting Consumer Intention to Adopt Battery Electric Vehicles: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Kathrin Monika Buhmann

    (Department of Business, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Josep Rialp-Criado

    (Department of Business, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Alex Rialp-Criado

    (Department of Business, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Societies worldwide are under increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints, combat air pollution, and address climate change. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) represent a sustainable transportation solution to mitigate environmental issues. Despite growing consumer demand, BEV adoption rates remain relatively low. This study extends the theory of planned behavior to analyze factors influencing consumer adoption intentions for BEVs in Spain. The research incorporates the constructs Attitude, Perceived Behavioral Control, Subjective Norm, Moral Norm, Environmental Concern, and a unique consumer ‘profile’ dimension comprising experience, education, and gender, alongside the moderating variable of ‘price sensitivity’. This study comprises 1816 responses collected through an online survey, and it utilized the partial least squares structural equation model. The empirical findings indicate that Attitude, Perceived Behavioral Control, Subjective Norm, and Moral Norm significantly impact consumer adoption intention. Attitude emerges as the strongest influencer, emphasizing the significance of personal beliefs. Environmental Concern suggests environmentally conscious consumers may lean toward BEV adoption due to positive attitudes. The ‘profile’ dimension does not affect the relationship toward adoption intention. Price sensitivity moderates these relationships, indicating pricing strategies and incentives could significantly influence BEV adoption decisions. These findings offer practical guidance for governments and manufacturers aiming to promote sustainable, eco-friendly transportation methods in the face of global environmental challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathrin Monika Buhmann & Josep Rialp-Criado & Alex Rialp-Criado, 2024. "Predicting Consumer Intention to Adopt Battery Electric Vehicles: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1284-:d:1332320
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/3/1284/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/3/1284/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dong, Xiaoyang & Zhang, Bin & Wang, Bo & Wang, Zhaohua, 2020. "Urban households’ purchase intentions for pure electric vehicles under subsidy contexts in China: Do cost factors matter?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 183-197.
    2. Hidrue, Michael K. & Parsons, George R. & Kempton, Willett & Gardner, Meryl P., 2011. "Willingness to pay for electric vehicles and their attributes," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 686-705, September.
    3. Adnan, Nadia & Md Nordin, Shahrina & Hadi Amini, M. & Langove, Naseebullah, 2018. "What make consumer sign up to PHEVs? Predicting Malaysian consumer behavior in adoption of PHEVs," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 259-278.
    4. Mohamed, Moataz & Higgins, Christopher D. & Ferguson, Mark & Réquia, Weeberb J., 2018. "The influence of vehicle body type in shaping behavioural intention to acquire electric vehicles: A multi-group structural equation approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 54-72.
    5. Gallagher, Kelly Sims & Muehlegger, Erich, 2011. "Giving green to get green? Incentives and consumer adoption of hybrid vehicle technology," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Wynne W. Chin & Barbara L. Marcolin & Peter R. Newsted, 2003. "A Partial Least Squares Latent Variable Modeling Approach for Measuring Interaction Effects: Results from a Monte Carlo Simulation Study and an Electronic-Mail Emotion/Adoption Study," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 14(2), pages 189-217, June.
    7. Shanyong Wang & Jin Fan & Dingtao Zhao & Shu Yang & Yuanguang Fu, 2016. "Predicting consumers’ intention to adopt hybrid electric vehicles: using an extended version of the theory of planned behavior model," Transportation, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 123-143, January.
    8. Yueling Xu & Wenyu Zhang & Haijun Bao & Shuai Zhang & Ying Xiang, 2019. "A SEM–Neural Network Approach to Predict Customers’ Intention to Purchase Battery Electric Vehicles in China’s Zhejiang Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, June.
    9. Shanyong Wang & Jin Fan & Dingtao Zhao & Shu Yang & Yuanguang Fu, 2016. "Predicting consumers’ intention to adopt hybrid electric vehicles: using an extended version of the theory of planned behavior model," Transportation, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 123-143, January.
    10. Martin Achtnicht, 2012. "German car buyers’ willingness to pay to reduce CO 2 emissions," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 113(3), pages 679-697, August.
    11. Jui-Che Tu & Chun Yang, 2019. "Key Factors Influencing Consumers’ Purchase of Electric Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-22, July.
    12. Mohamed, Moataz & Higgins, Chris & Ferguson, Mark & Kanaroglou, Pavlos, 2016. "Identifying and characterizing potential electric vehicle adopters in Canada: A two-stage modelling approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 100-112.
    13. Udit Chawla & Rajesh Mohnot & Varsha Mishra & Harsh Vikram Singh & Ayush Kumar Singh, 2023. "Factors Influencing Customer Preference and Adoption of Electric Vehicles in India: A Journey towards More Sustainable Transportation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, April.
    14. Qingyou Yan & Guangyu Qin & Meijuan Zhang & Bowen Xiao, 2019. "Research on Real Purchasing Behavior Analysis of Electric Cars in Beijing Based on Structural Equation Modeling and Multinomial Logit Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-15, October.
    15. Deka, Chayasmita & Dutta, Mrinal Kanti & Yazdanpanah, Masoud & Komendantova, Nadejda, 2023. "Can gain motivation induce Indians to adopt electric vehicles? Application of an extended theory of Planned Behavior to map EV adoption intention," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    16. Dianne Hofenk & Marcel Birgelen & Josée Bloemer & Janjaap Semeijn, 2019. "How and When Retailers’ Sustainability Efforts Translate into Positive Consumer Responses: The Interplay Between Personal and Social Factors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(2), pages 473-492, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Barış Can Bektaş & Güzin Akyıldız Alçura, 2024. "Understanding Electric Vehicle Adoption in Türkiye: Analyzing User Motivations Through the Technology Acceptance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-22, October.

    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. Kumar Shalender & Naman Sharma, 2021. "Using extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to predict adoption intention of electric vehicles in India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 665-681, January.
    2. Nguyen-Phuoc, Duy Quy & Truong, Thi Minh & Nguyen, Minh Hieu & Pham, Huong-Giang & Li, Zhi-Chun & Oviedo-Trespalacios, Oscar, 2024. "What factors influence the intention to use electric motorcycles in motorcycle-dominated countries? An empirical study in Vietnam," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 193-204.
    3. Zhou, Min & Long, Piao & Kong, Nan & Zhao, Lindu & Jia, Fu & Campy, Kathryn S., 2021. "Characterizing the motivational mechanism behind taxi driver’s adoption of electric vehicles for living: Insights from China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 134-152.
    4. Fu, Xuemei, 2024. "Understanding the adoption intention for electric vehicles: The role of hedonic-utilitarian values," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    5. Tuğba Yeğin & Muhammad Ikram, 2022. "Analysis of Consumers’ Electric Vehicle Purchase Intentions: An Expansion of the Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, September.
    6. Secinaro, Silvana & Calandra, Davide & Lanzalonga, Federico & Ferraris, Alberto, 2022. "Electric vehicles’ consumer behaviours: Mapping the field and providing a research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 399-416.
    7. Jingnan Zhang & Shichun Xu & Zhengxia He & Chengze Li & Xiaona Meng, 2022. "Factors Influencing Adoption Intention for Electric Vehicles under a Subsidy Deduction: From Different City-Level Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.
    8. Ziwen Ling & Christopher R. Cherry & Yi Wen, 2021. "Determining the Factors That Influence Electric Vehicle Adoption: A Stated Preference Survey Study in Beijing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-22, October.
    9. Elnaz Abotalebi & Mark R. Ferguson & Moataz Mohamed & Darren M. Scott, 2020. "Design of a survey to assess prospects for consumer electric mobility in Canada: a retrospective appraisal," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1223-1250, June.
    10. Yahong Jiang & Qunqi Wu & Min Li & Yulei Gu & Jun Yang, 2023. "What Is Affecting the Popularity of New Energy Vehicles? A Systematic Review Based on the Public Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-29, September.
    11. Vats, Ishan & Singhal, Deepak & Tripathy, Sushanta & Jena, Sarat Kumar, 2022. "The transition from BS4 to BS6 compliant vehicles for eco-friendly mobility in India: An empirical study on switching intention," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    12. Ye, Fei & Kang, Wanlin & Li, Lixu & Wang, Zhiqiang, 2021. "Why do consumers choose to buy electric vehicles? A paired data analysis of purchase intention configurations," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 14-27.
    13. 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.
    14. Simona Bigerna & Silvia Micheli, 2018. "Attitudes Toward Electric Vehicles: The Case of Perugia Using a Fuzzy Set Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.
    15. Tan, Yang & Fukuda, Hiroatsu & Li, Zhang & Wang, Shuai & Gao, Weijun & Liu, Zhonghui, 2022. "Does the public support the construction of battery swapping station for battery electric vehicles? - Data from Hangzhou, China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    16. Li, Wenbo & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong & Yang, Tong & Geng, Jichao & Yang, Muyi, 2018. "Effects of personal carbon trading on the decision to adopt battery electric vehicles: Analysis based on a choice experiment in Jiangsu, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 478-488.
    17. Phasiri Manutworakit & Kasem Choocharukul, 2022. "Factors Influencing Battery Electric Vehicle Adoption in Thailand—Expanding the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology’s Variables," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-16, July.
    18. Kim, Moon-Koo & Oh, Jeesun & Park, Jong-Hyun & Joo, Changlim, 2018. "Perceived value and adoption intention for electric vehicles in Korea: Moderating effects of environmental traits and government supports," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 799-809.
    19. Liu, Hu-Chen & You, Xiao-Yue & Xue, Yi-Xi & Luan, Xue, 2017. "Exploring critical factors influencing the diffusion of electric vehicles in China: A multi-stakeholder perspective," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 46-58.
    20. Andriosopoulos, Kostas & Bigerna, Simona & Bollino, Carlo Andrea & Micheli, Silvia, 2018. "The impact of age on Italian consumers' attitude toward alternative fuel vehicles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 299-308.

    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:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1284-:d:1332320. 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.