The influence of environmental concerns and psychosocial factors on electric motorbike switching intention in the global south

Duy Quy Nguyen-Phuoc, Nguyen An Ngoc Nguyen, Phuong Thi Kim Tran, Huong-Giang Pham and Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios

Journal of Transport Geography, 2023, vol. 113, issue C

Abstract: Motorcycle riding is the principal mode of travel in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Motorcycle-based transport is regarded as highly problematic today due to reliance on fossil-based fuels, which contributes to climate change. Additionally, emissions from fuel combustion release air pollutants in urban areas, resulting in public health issues. Unfortunately, in LMICs, functioning and widespread public transport infrastructure will not be feasible in the near future due to economic and social tensions. As such, encouraging a mode shift from conventional motorcycles to electric motorcycles (EMs), a more sustainable transport mode, is a reasonable strategy for many jurisdictions. However, to develop effective programs to increase the adoption of EMs, it is necessary to have a better understanding of motives and barriers that determine the switching intention to EMs. To cover this gap, this investigation aims to develop a conceptual research model based on the Behavioural Reasoning Theory to explore the antecedents of the switching intention. Data from 751 conventional motorcycle users in Vietnam were used to test the model using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The moderating roles of trust and knowledge were also examined in this study. The results showed that ‘reasons for’ have no direct effect on the switching intention; however, this variable affects the intention indirectly via global motives. In contrast, ‘reasons against’ show a negative direct impact on the intention, and no indirect effect is found. The findings provide interesting insights for governments and the electric vehicle industry.

Keywords: Electric motorcycles; Carbon emissions; Switching intention; Trust; Knowledge; Responsible innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692323001771

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:113:y:2023:i:c:s0966692323001771

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103705

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Transport Geography is currently edited by Frank Witlox

More articles in Journal of Transport Geography from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().