An investigation into the major barriers to the adoption of electric vehicles in last-mile deliveries for sustainable transport

Purpose Although electric vehicles (EVs) offer promising solutions for reducing transport emissions, several obstacles hinder their adoption, and supply chain (SC) stakeholders must systematically identify and address these challenges. Prior research has explored barriers to EV adoption but lacks a global focus on last-mile delivery (LMD). Our study aims to fill this gap, providing a foundation for future research and aiding organizational shifts towards sustainable transportation. Design/methodology/approach Our study identifies 21 critical barriers to EV deployment in LMDs, validated through a quantitative survey involving 157 SC experts. The survey data are analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), which identifies four distinct dimensions encapsulating the identified barriers. Based on consultations with five experts, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) ranks these dimensions and individual impediments globally. Findings The study finds “Energy and Infrastructure Barriers” and “Financial and Resource Barriers” to be the most significant hindrances. Noteworthy individual barriers include the absence of fast-charging stations, insufficient electricity provision and the need for investment in Power Grid upgrades. Originality/value This research contributes to the existing literature by offering a robust methodology for classifying and ranking EV adoption barriers through EFA and AHP. It thus provides a globally applicable framework for stakeholders to devise targeted strategies for overcoming these barriers.