Effects of Safety Perception and Institutional Factors on the Adoption of Intelligent BMS for Electric Buses

As electric buses have become a key mode of eco-friendly public transportation, their rapid deployment has been accompanied by severe safety risks associated with battery thermal runaway. This study focused on an intelligent battery management system (BMS) as a proactive measure to mitigate fire risks. Utilizing an extended technology acceptance model, this exploratory study aimed to identify the psychological and institutional mechanisms driving BMS adoption among 91 field workers in a metropolitan area. The empirical analysis (R2 = 60.4%) revealed that perceived usefulness and policy support are the primary factors positively influencing adoption intention. Furthermore, technical trust in system and information security risk did not show a statistically significant impact. Similarly, ease of use also did not show a statistically significant impact. This finding indicates that, in high-risk transportation environments, the accuracy of fire detection and data integrity are prioritized over operational convenience. Consequently, for the successful integration of intelligent BMS, this study suggests reducing technical uncertainty through transparent algorithmic principles and considering institutional mechanisms that safeguard data sovereignty.