Investigating Relationship between Environmental Knowledge and Attitudes towards Electric Vehicles: An Emerging Economy Context

Abstract

In order to investigate the impact of environmental information on the purchase of electric automobiles, the present research applied the Theory of Planned Behavior. Using primary data (n = 214), the proposed research model was validated using covariance-based structural equation modelling. The findings confirmed a positive relationship between attitudes towards electric vehicles and environmental knowledge. It was discovered that purchase intentions and perceived consumer effectiveness were significantly related. Control over availability also has a significant impact on buyers’ intentions. The study’s findings were unable to show a significant indirect relationship between environmental knowledge and purchase intentions. However, in this study, purchase behavior was significantly predicted by individuals’ purchase intentions. In particular, females were found to have stronger buy intentions than their male counterparts when it came to the effects of consumer perceived efficacy and control over availability (significant moderation of gender). The study’s empirical findings had a variety of theoretical and practical ramifications.