Understanding the Factors Supporting Eco-Driving Decision-Making: How Technology, an Ecological Mindset, and Cognitive Flexibility Promote Sustainable Driving

As sustainable motorized individual transport becomes essential for achieving <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\text{CO}_{2}$</tex> reduction targets, this study investigates the acceptance of an eco-driving app that may provide a practical solution to improve sustainable driving. The app, building on currently available technologies, was examined using an integrated model of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Trust in Technology. The study assesses the technology's acceptance and influence on future eco-driving intentions. In addition to TAM's established variables - Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness - Trust in Technology emerged as a significant predictor of app acceptance. The study further explored the roles of Environmental Awareness and Cognitive Flexibility, two factors previously unexamined in eco-driving research, as motivators of sustainable driving intentions. Findings indicate that app acceptance, alongside Environmental Awareness and Cognitive Flexibility, support the Intention to Perform EcoDriving. Practical implications emphasize the importance of a design that fosters user trust, while theoretical implications suggest that future research should consider cognitive and mindset factors in addition to technology acceptance when investigating eco-driving intentions. These results underscore the relevance of our study for both practitioners and researchers in advancing sustainable motorized individual transport.