No abstract

No abstract

Despite rapid increase of battery electric vehicles (BEV) in many countries, there are still concerns related to technology, usability and safety aspects of BEVs. The present study examines the role of perceived accident risk, knowledge, perceived car attributes, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control, together with demographic variables, on intention to buy a BEV among conventional car drivers. A web-survey is used to collect data from 205 conventional car drivers (76.5% male) living in different parts of Norway. A regression analysis is conducted to investigate the predictive role of the measured constructs for the intention to buy a BEV. Results show that environmental-economic attributes of BEVs, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control are positively related to the intention.Meanwhile, being male is negatively related to the intention. Neither perceived accident risk nor the knowledge about BEVs has a direct effect on the intention. However, further mediation analysis shows that both perceived accident risk and knowledge have an indirect effect on the intention through the perceived attributes of BEVs. Implications of the results for interventions aiming to increase BEV adoption are discussed.

The electric bicycle (e-bike) is a newly emerging transport option that brings several environmental and individual benefits. In order to promote e-bike use, it is important to understand which factors influence the intention to buy an e-bike among the non-users. The main aim of the present study is to examine the role of perceived benefits, barriers, social norms, familiarity with e-bikes and demographic variables for predicting the intention to buy an e-bike in a Norwegian sample. In addition, the study also aims to compare perceived benefits and barriers of e-bike use between e-bike users and non-users. A commercial panel (response rate 42.04%) and a Facebook post were used to collect data from 910 respondents (252 e-bike users, 658 non-users) via an online survey. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the predictors of intentions to buy an e-bike. Results showed that increasing age, higher perceived benefits, both subjective and descriptive norm in favor of e-bikes, and familiarity with e-bikes were positively, whereas perceived barriers related to usability and safety were negatively related with the intention to buy an e-bike. In addition, compared to e-bike users, non-users had lower scores on the benefits related to mobility, symbolic and health aspects of e-bikes and higher scores on the barriers related to usability and safety of e-bikes. Environmental factors, such as poor weather and road conditions, appeared as the strongest barrier against e-bike use for both e-bike users and nonusers.