Policy and Innovation Dynamics Shaping the Acceptance of Electric Vehicles in Socio-Technical Transitions

The global shift towards sustainable transportation necessitates a fundamental transformation in consumer mobility behavior. Electric vehicles (EVs) are central to this transition due to their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. However, despite technological advances, policy incentives, and environmental awareness campaigns, consumer acceptance of EVs remains inconsistent across different regions and demographic groups. Understanding the multifaceted drivers and barriers of EV adoption is critical to bridging this gap.<br/>This study investigates the primary factors influencing EV acceptance through the lens of an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), incorporating social constructs such as Social Norms (SN) and Image (IM) in addition to the traditional Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU). The model builds on foundational work by Davis (1989) and subsequent extensions (TAM2, TAM3; Venkatesh &amp; Davis, 2000; Venkatesh &amp; Bala, 2008), which emphasize the importance of social influence and facilitating conditions in technology adoption.<br/>Prior studies in the domain of EV acceptance have demonstrated the relevance of TAM variables. For instance, Shanmugavel et al. (2022) highlight the significance of perceived usefulness and social comparisons in India, while Guo et al. (2023) illustrate the role of societal attitudes and cost barriers in China. Farajnezhad et al. (2024) emphasize the cumulative impact of economic, social, and environmental factors on EV adoption globally. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive model that integrates both technical and social dimensions.