Factors Affecting Electric Bike Adoption: Seeking an Energy-Efficient Solution for the Post-COVID Era


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Yasir A., Hu X., Ahmad M., Alvarado R., Anser M. K., IŞIK C., ...More

FRONTIERS IN ENERGY RESEARCH, vol.9, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 9
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.3389/fenrg.2021.817107
  • Journal Name: FRONTIERS IN ENERGY RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: environmental sustainability, financial factors, psychological factors, capacity factors, China, E-bike adoption, PLANNED BEHAVIOR, BICYCLE USE, TRAVEL, PLS, DETERMINANTS, TECHNOLOGIES, SATISFACTION, CONSUMPTION, PERFORMANCE, FACILITIES
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Sustainability think tanks such as the United Nations Organization have a strong focus on achieving economic and environmental sustainability goals globally. On the road to sustainable development, electric bike (E-bike) adoption is crucial. Nevertheless, research on the factors associated with E-Bike use, especially the psychological, financial, and capacity factors, has remained unexplored. This paper extends the theory of planned behavior with six novel factors related to individual choices to analyze E-bike adoption behavior. A sample of 507 Chinese bike riders is collected through the snowball sampling technique. The sample is estimated through structural equation modeling. The key findings are as follows: first, speed capacity, mileage capacity, and real-time camera positively drove E-bike adoption intention. Second, price differentiation negatively affected E-bike adoption intention. Third, the theory of planned behavior factors, including perceived relative advantage, cost savings, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and attitudes toward E-bike adoption, proved to be drivers of E-bike adoption intention. Finally, cost savings are the most critical factor of E-bike adoption intention, whereas perceived behavior control is the least critical factor. These results will help green transportation companies and emerging economies promote E-bike adoption to reach the environmental sustainability goals of the United Nations.