Drivers of Electric Vehicles (EVs) Purchase Intentions in the Nepalese Market

Abstract

This research paper investigates the factors that influence the green purchase intention of electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal. It is based on a behavioural framework and hypothesises the impact of four antecedents—perceived usefulness, perceived risk, perceived value, and perceived image on the intention to purchase EVs among consumers. An explanatory research design was utilised, and 400 EV users in Nepal were surveyed with the help of a convenience sampling strategy to provide data. A structured questionnaire with five-point Likert scales was used to elicit the perceptions of respondents regarding the focal constructs and demographics of interest. The descriptive statistics used in data analysis were employed to profile the sample, and inferential statistics, such as multiple regression, were used to test the hypothesised relationships and estimate the effect sizes. Findings show that perceived usefulness, perceived value, and perceived image have positive and statistically significant relationships with green purchase intention, indicating that consumers who perceive EVs to be useful, economical, and socially desirable are more likely to have a purchase intention. Conversely, perceived risk exhibits a significant negative relationship with purchase intention, underscoring that infrastructural and functional uncertainties act as key barriers for buyers. Regression analyses affirm that the existence of the four predictors is significant to explain a substantial amount of variance in purchase intention, with perceived usefulness and perceived value turning out to be the most significant single predictors. Recommendations to policymakers and other stakeholders in the industry include increasing EV infrastructure, educating the public about EVs, and creating marketing plans that increase the perceived value and image of EVs. This research provides empirical data on a developing-country setting, which can be applied to achieve sustainable mobility faster in Nepal and other such markets.