Antecedents in Determining Users’ Acceptance of Electric Shuttle Bus Services

Abstract

The electric shuttle bus service is a pro-environmental transportation method with the advantages of conserving fossil fuel consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It could also provide flexible shuttle services and enhance travel convenience for residents. Although it has many advantages, users’ willingness to accept the electric shuttle bus service is crucial to its successful implementation. A theoretical research model that integrates UTAUT and NAM with an attitude construct is developed based on the data collected in China to explore antecedents of using electric shuttle bus services. The validity of the proposed model is examined by partial least squares structural equation modeling. According to analysis results, the proposed research model could explain 73.5% of the variance in adoption intention. Results demonstrate that attitude is the strongest antecedent of using electric shuttle bus services. Performance expectancy, personal norms, and social influence are the direct antecedents, and ascription of responsibility and effort expectancy is demonstrated as the indirect antecedents of using electric shuttle bus services. Results also offer valuable insights into how electric shuttle bus services can be accepted and implemented more readily.