The transport sector is the leading source of growing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. To consider environmental degradation aspects due to transport, electric vehicles (EVs) have the prospect to lead road transport to electric mobility from conventional petroleum vehicles. Despite various eco-friendly benefits, the EV market penetration ratio is very low, especially in developing countries. The primary reason for low penetration is consumer limited motivation and knowledge about the EVs features. This paper uses a unified theory of acceptance and technology (UTAUT) model to assess consumer motivation and environmental knowledge towards EVs. This research used convenience random sampling to collect data and analyzed the results using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method on the example of 199 respondents from Malaysia. The study results revealed that factors identified in the motivational context significantly influence consumer intentions to purchase EVs. Perceived environmental knowledge and technophilia have been included in UTAUT from a motivational perspective. Furthermore, a significant relationship between effort expectancy, social influence, technophilia, perceived environmental knowledge, and purchase intention towards electric vehicles has been observed, without performance expectancy. The study findings serve to inform policymakers and automakers to formulate effective marketing strategies to enhance consumer motivation, knowledge, and value creation for EVs in a sustainable era. Ultimately, the policies will help to encourage consumers to buy eco-friendly vehicles that will help reduce transport carbon emissions and attain sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Transportation is critical in contributing to the quality of life development; however, it has also negatively impacted human life and the environment with carbon emissions. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are believed to be the best solution to reduce transport emissions. The EV adoption rate in developed countries is growing annually, but in developing countries very low, especially in Malaysia. Against this background, this study aims to identify the significant factors that can influence consumer motivation toward purchasing EVs. To the best of the author's knowledge, this contribution is the first where the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was modeled with performance expectancy, effort expectancy, fuel efficiency, technophilia, and advertisement to maximize the consumer motivation toward adoption of EVs. SmartPLS has analyzed independent variables' influence in this study by drawing a conceptual framework. The data has been collected from 150 respondents inside Malaysia through online questionnaires. Results of the study revealed that all factors except effort expectancy are most important in enhancing consumer motivations. Furthermore, this research has shown the elements with the determinant of motivation and advertisement interrelated with consumer intentions towards EVs and offered managerial implications. These factors will give insights to the transportation sectors in bridging the demand and supply of EVs.
Transportation is extremely important in contributing to the life quality development of urban areas. However, it has influenced negatively on individuals and the environment due to carbon emissions and gases. Worldwide, organizations and countries are exploring a solution and have developed Electric Vehicles (EVs) as the best possible solution. Electric vehicles emit no exhaust emissions and are powered by batteries. The adoption rate of EVs in rich countries is increasing year after year, while consumer adoption intention of EVs in poor countries is quite low, particularly in Malaysia. The ownership percentage of Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEs) in Malaysia is 93 percent, placing it near the top of the globe, but EV adoption is just about 3.5 percent. Consumer awareness of EVs is quite low, which is why consumer adoption intentions toward EVs are not increasing. Malaysia is the world's 26th highest emitter of carbon and greenhouse gases (GHG). This study will assist in identifying the characteristics that can maximize consumer interest in EVs and will be beneficial to the government and industry in developing the market as stated in the Paris accord and achieving the Carbon Neutral Nation 2050 aim. The study will go through the motivators that lead consumers to purchase EVs. These characteristics will provide transportation sectors insights on bridging the demand and supply of sustainable vehicles.
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