Heading towards a cleaner future: understanding the driver’s perspectives on electric vehicle switching behavior in urban transport

Abstract

The potential of electric vehicles (E-vehicles) to replace the current transportation system based on internal combustion engines is significant, which can bring about transformative changes in society and promote sustainable development. The recognition of this potential plays a crucial role in motivating individuals to switch to E-vehicles in urban transportation. However, the process through which this awareness spreads among the public and the specific points at which a critical mass is reached are poorly explored. This study investigated the factors that influenced the driver’s intention and decision to switch to using electric vehicles in urban transport from the driver's perspective. Accordingly, the role of important social factors (business, community, and government), individual psychological/cognitive factors and the behaviour change process have been studied drawn on Social Cognitive theory and the Transtheoretical Model. We collected data from 271 ridesharing drivers in Vietnam and applied Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine the hypotheses within the theoretical framework. Our findings confirmed the factors network size of e-vehicle, instrumental attributes had a strong significant influence on both affective commitment to change and normative commitment to change. Moreover, affective commitment to change and normative commitment to change had a positively significant influence on switching intention and behaviour. Altogether, this study has the potential to contribute significantly to the ongoing critical discussion about transitioning to new forms of energy to protect the environment for sustainable development goals. It not only enriches this discussion in a contemporary context but also provides valuable theoretical and practical insights for researchers and practitioners in the field of electric vehicles.