The Effect of Drivers and Barriers on Electric Vehicle Usage in Romania: Findings from PLS-SEM and MGA

In recent years, the popularity of electric vehicles among consumers has been steadily increasing.In 2023, electric cars accounted for a market share of 24.4% on the Romanian automotive market.In Europe, the share of electric vehicles (EVs) represents more than 22.3% of the automotive market, setting a record percentage.This study investigates the effect of determining factors on the intention to use and actual usage of electric vehicles by Romanian consumers, considering two distinct latent variables and integrating attributes related to the acceptance of new technologies.Based on an online questionnaire and using the "Snowball Sampling" method, 413 valid questionnaires were collected from Romanian users.Statistical hypothesis testing and validation of the proposed new model were conducted using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and multi-group analysis (PLS-MGA).Data processing and analysis were performed using Smart PLS 4 and SPSS 28 software.The results highlight the positive and significant effect of latent variables (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, as well as the drivers) on the intention of electric vehicle usage behaviour among Romanian users.These results provide valuable insights for developing strategies to increase the use of electric vehicles in the future.The findings align with existing literature confirming the significant role of perceived usefulness and ease of use in technology adoption while highlighting the impact of contextual drivers and barriers.