Overcoming barriers to fuel cell electric vehicles adoption: Greener environmental governance in the Indian subcontinent

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are gaining global attention as a sustainable transportation solution, yet their adoption in emerging South Asian economies remains limited. This study addresses the research gap by identifying and prioritizing barriers to FCEV adoption in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, regions underrepresented in existing literature. A hybrid methodology integrating Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Fuzzy Set Theory (FST), and Evidential Reasoning Approach (ERA) was applied to analyze responses from 221 experts across five stakeholder groups. The results reveal that high cost, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of skilled workforce are the most critical and stable barriers. The study also proposes a scenario-based stability analysis for targeted and adaptive policy design. The study offers practical implications for policymakers and industry leaders aiming to accelerate the FCEV transition in emerging markets by providing region-specific insights. • Study identifies and prioritizes key barriers to FCEV adoption in South Asian emerging economies. • Study integrates ST and TBL theories, adding an operational dimension to sustainable FCEV research. • Severity analysis reveals significant barriers under each perspective. • Higher costs, a limited number of refueling stations, and a lack of awareness are the main barriers. • Scenario-based stability analysis guides adaptive and targeted policymaking for FCEV adoption.