Barriers to electric vehicle adoption: A structural equation modeling analysis

Abstract

The ever-increasing concern over climate change is compelling global economies to employ alternative fuel technology to combat the vehicular emissions of greenhouse gases. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a viable environmentally friendly alternative that has the potential to facilitate an effective shift towards a sustainable transportation system with low emissions while preserving the environment; however, well-intentioned policies and other incentives have not been able to transcend the technological, infrastructure, and financial barriers that prevent their adoption. Although previous studies explored the barriers that prevent the adoption of EVs in emerging economies, no research was found in context of United States. Therefore, this study aims to develop a model that depicts the impact of the barriers on EV adoption in United States. The model, developed and empirically validated with data collected from 733 respondents to a questionnaire survey, employed the structural equation modelling technique and revealed that of the four categories of barriers, only the environmental barriers are not significant. The outcomes of this study may aid policymakers in the development of effective transportation and energy policies and guide those responsible for designing EVs that fit the needs and demands of potential consumers.