Public acceptance of electric public transport: determinants and strategic framework

Abstract The success of the global transition to electric public transport depends critically on public acceptance, a factor that remains less well understood than the adoption of private electric vehicles. This study addresses this gap by synthesising existing empirical evidence on acceptance factors and integrating these insights into a heuristic, theory-informed conceptual model and a logic model intended to guide strategic action, rather than to serve as an empirically validated tool. A systematic literature review was conducted following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol. Relevant peer-reviewed empirical studies from Scopus and Web of Science (2015–2025) were synthesised following a rigorous quality appraisal and risk-of-bias assessment. Bibliometric and thematic analyses were combined to map the research landscape and identify key determinants of acceptance. The field remains nascent but is growing rapidly (12.25% annually). The synthesis of fragmented evidence led to a conceptual model in which intention to use and perceived barriers emerge as the most proximal antecedents of public acceptance, indirectly shaped by attitudes, service quality, and social norms. Based on this synthesis, a heuristic logic model is proposed to translate the reviewed evidence into a structured strategic framework for policymakers, planners, and operators. This study represents the first systematic consolidation of research specifically focused on electric public transport acceptance. Its primary contribution lies in the development of an integrated conceptual model and a non-prescriptive, evidence-informed logic model that moves beyond merely listing factors to offer a holistic understanding of acceptance mechanisms and a coherent pathway for future policy design and empirical testing.