Towards Sustainable Mobility in Emerging Economies: Evidence from an Integrated TPB–TAM Framework on Electric Vehicle Adoption in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption in emerging markets remains limited despite global policy efforts. This study examines the determinants of EV adoption intention (IT) in the Klang Valley, Malaysia by integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The 437 valid responses from a survey conducted in the Klang Valley (comprising Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya and parts of Negeri Sembilan) from August to November 2025 were analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings highlight that perceived behavioral control (PBC) is the strongest direct predictor of IT, while perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence IT indirectly through attitude, subjective norms, and PBC, with perceived ease of use having the largest total effect. The proposed integrated TPB–TAM framework explains 69.6% of the variance in IT, offering new insights into behavioral mechanisms underlying EV acceptance in an emerging economy. These results underscore the need for targeted policies and infrastructure development to accelerate EV transition in the Klang Valley and may offer preliminary insights for other developing markets, subject to further validation.