Government Incentives and Consumer Adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles in Taiwan: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

Abstract

This study examines how government policy tools shape consumer adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Taiwan. By extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) focusing on three external government policy factors—legislative direction, monetary incentives, and usage-based benefits—this study uses two factors, including perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU), to evaluate behavioral intention to use (BI), or purchase, BEVs. Utilizing PLS-SEM, survey data from 238 respondents were analyzed. The results suggest that legislative direction had no significant impact on PU or PEOU, while monetary incentives influenced only PEOU. In contrast, usage-based benefits strongly predicted both PU and PEOU. In addition, PU also partially mediates the relationship between PEOU and BI. These findings extend the TAM by situating public policy as a measurable driver of technology adoption, especially in the case of BEVs. For Taiwan, the results suggest that governmental policies focused on increased visibility and accessibility are more attractive than abstract regulatory frameworks in encouraging BEV adoption.