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Business models for sustainable technologies: Exploring business model evolution in the case of electric vehicles

Author

Listed:
  • René Bohnsack

    (University of Amsterdam Business School - University of Amsterdam Business School)

  • Jonatan Pinkse

    (Energy Management - MTS - Management Technologique et Strategique - EESC-GEM Grenoble Ecole de Management)

  • Ans Kolk

    (Amsterdam Business School - UvA - University of Amsterdam [Amsterdam] = Universiteit van Amsterdam)

Abstract

Sustainable technologies challenge prevailing business practices, especially in industries that depend heavily on the use of fossil fuels. Firms are therefore in need of business models that transform the specific characteristics of sustainable technologies into new ways to create economic value and overcome the barriers that stand in the way of their market penetration. A key issue is the respective impact of incumbent and entrepreneurial firms' path-dependent behaviour on the development of such new business models. Embedded in the literature on business models, this paper explores how incumbent and entrepreneurial firms' path dependencies have affected the evolution of business models for electric vehicles. Based on a qualitative analysis of electric vehicle projects of key industry players over a five-year period (2006-2010), the paper identifies four business model archetypes and traces their evolution over time. Findings suggest that incumbent and entrepreneurial firms approach business model innovation in distinctive ways. Business model evolution shows a series of incremental changes that introduce service-based components, which were initially developed by entrepreneurial firms, to the product. Over time there seems to be some convergence in the business models of incumbents and entrepreneurs in the direction of delivering economy multi-purpose vehicles.

Suggested Citation

  • René Bohnsack & Jonatan Pinkse & Ans Kolk, 2014. "Business models for sustainable technologies: Exploring business model evolution in the case of electric vehicles," Post-Print hal-00936886, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00936886
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2013.10.014
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: http://hal.grenoble-em.com/hal-00936886
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    Keywords

    Sustainable technology; business models; evolution; path dependencies; electric vehicles;
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