Interrelationships among EV adoption factors: An ISM-MICMAC approach

• Identifies key factors driving EV adoption in India using ISM-MICMAC methodology. • Maps interdependencies among EV adoption factors to inform policy and industry. • Provides actionable insights for overcoming barriers to accelerate EV adoption. Transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) is central to sustainable transport, yet adoption depends on interdependent technical, economic, and infrastructural factors. This study aims to map those interrelationships and identify the most influential drivers of EV uptake. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and MICMAC (Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification) are applied, combining a structured literature synthesis with expert judgments from 12 specialists gathered via semi-structured interviews and a brainstorming session. ISM yields a hierarchical structure of factors while MICMAC classifies them by driving and dependence power to validate the hierarchy. Results show battery range anxiety as the foundational driver, with fast-charging technology and advancements in vehicle technology as successive high-influence factors. Integration with existing infrastructure and home-charging solutions form the next layer of influence, and total cost of ownership (with battery swapping as a complementary option) exerts mid-tier effects, whereas other factors play comparatively minor roles. These findings suggest policy and managerial priorities: reduce range anxiety (technology, information, and network density), accelerate fast-charging rollout, support integration of home and destination charging, and address total cost of ownership through incentives and design-for-cost. Unlike prior ISM-MICMAC studies that modeled only barriers to EV adoption, this study extends the analysis to capture both enabling and constraining interrelationships within a broader, technology-led ecosystem. The model reflects India’s evolving post-policy transition stage, emphasizing technological and infrastructural readiness rather than purely regulatory influence.