The role of instrumental, hedonic and symbolic attributes in the intention to adopt electric vehicles

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to understand how private car drivers' perception of vehicle attributes may affect their intention to adopt Electric Vehicles (EVs). Data are obtained from a national on-line survey of potential EV adopters in the UK. The results indicate that instrumental attributes are important largely because they are associated with other attributes derived from owning and using EVs including pleasure of driving (hedonic attributes) and identity derived from owning and using EVs (symbolic attributes). We also find that people who believe that a proenvironmental self-identity fits with their self-image are more likely to have positive perceptions of EV attributes. In addition, perceptions of EV attributes were found to be only very weakly associated with car-authority identity.

Consumer structure in the emerging market for electric vehicles: Identifying market segments using cluster analysis

“…These meanings have been found in past research to be central issues in how car use is interpreted by drivers (Steg, 2005) and also useful in understanding consumer assessments of plug-in EVs (Schuitema et al 2013) and hybrid vehicles (Heffner et al 2007). …”

“…A detailed profiling of the consumer segments which are forming in the early market for EVs will likely allow for an appreciation of how they differ in their ancillary characteristics which may provide insights regarding the development of tailored sub-market strategies intended to respond to the distinct features of the segments. In this sense, market segmentation analysis allows for the understanding of consumer response to EVs to progress beyond the findings from research which focus on the generalisations which hold true for all customers (Jansson et al 2011;Al-Alawi and Bradley, 2013;Schuitema et al 2013;Morton et al 2016a) to a position which appreciates the nuances and distinctions of consumer groups.…”

Unbundling cars to daily use and infrequent use vehicles—the potential role of car sharing

“…Fuel economy for example is a more functional aspect and might influence vehicle choice from a pure economical point of view, but may also have symbolic value such as environmental awareness and concern or in the case of the US even patriotism (Heffner et al 2007). The role of symbolic value is highlighted in studies of EVs and the early adopters of these (Noppers et al 2014;Schuitema et al 2013;Skippon and Garwood 2011).…”

“…The younger generation, for whom smartphones and constant connection is more important, may place less emphasis on the status attributes associated with car ownership (Delbosc and Currie 2013;Kuhnimhof et al 2012). Another example is EVs which, even when small, have the possibility to carry a high symbolic value (new technology, higher prices, environmental concern) (Noppers et al 2014;Schuitema et al 2013;Skippon and Garwood 2011).…”

Adoption of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle among Malaysian Consumers

“…By keeping a close consideration at the research on electric vehicle technology adoption, the main idea was to incorporate electrically charged battery supported vehicles i.e. PHEVs came into the current market trend [3]. We scale out our domain to study their potential introduction from an integrated perspective of PHEVs.…”