A Study on the Structural Relations among Factors Influencing the Purchase Intention of Electric Cars in Vietnam

Abstract

Abstract: Vietnam is famous for the roads full of motorcycles. Because there are many motorcycles were used, the air pollution in Vietnam became more and more serious in the big cities. To protect the environment and reduce the pollution, Vietnam Government is trying to encourage civils to use electric vehicles in Vietnam such as electric bikes, motorcycles and especially electric cars. This paper aims to examine structural relations among factors influencing the purchase intention of electric cars in Vietnam. Four variables are chosen from existing acceptance models: perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use and social influence and attitude. These new variables were added such as perceived challenges of use, total cost of ownership and lack of law system. Besides, this research examined the moderating role of environmental concern on the relationship between attitude and customer’s intention to buy an electric car. The data were collected from 202 Vietnamese people. The results showed that perceived usefulness and social influence directly affect customer attitude; attitude, total cost of ownership and social influence directly affect customer purchase intention. Additionally, environmental concern significantly moderated the relationship between attitude and purchase intention.