Consumers’ Adoption of Electric Vehicles for Sustainability: Exploring the Role of Personality Traits

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of the Big Five personality traits which include extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness in molding the adoption intention of consumers regarding electric vehicles (EVs) in India. This study also looks at Behavioral Economics as an explanatory theory on the diffusion of electric vehicles in India. The study comprised two stages. In the first stage, 150 users and non-users of electric vehicles were surveyed. Results pointed to a significant effect of all Big Five personality traits on adoption intention, with the exception of the trait of neuroticism.  There was no significant difference in the adoption intention based on the differences in personality traits between men and women.  In the second stage, the study used an expert-opinion based survey that was conceptualized based on the Diffusion of Innovation theory combined with the idea of memetics in new product diffusion. The results from the first stage of the research were bolstered by the fact that the second stage indicated that product attributes influencing diffusion would have a negative influence on adoption intentions of persons with high neuroticism. The study provides useful insights into consumer behavior based on personality for marketers of electric vehicles and policymakers interested in bringing about sustainable consumption practices.