Purchase Behaviour of Electric Cars in Malaysia: Evidence-Based Insights

Abstract

Electric car purchases in Malaysia have not increased despite government support and the apparent environmental benefits touted. The drivers' response to purchasing an electric car is crucial for decarbonizing the transportation sector and mitigating the effects of greenhouse gas (GHG). This mainly aims to determine the drivers’ responses towards electric car purchases. A cross-sectional survey through a questionnaire was used to collect data from the public. The survey was developed based on the adapted and self-developed items. Based on the analysis, there were three hypotheses with significant indirect effect (vehicle infrastructure and services, vehicle investment, and government support), and one hypothesis with significant direct effect (driver’s travel experience). Thus, the response of Malaysian drivers towards the purchase of electric are sensitive to infrastructure, costs, and institutional support, and driver’s travel experience has a significant direct effect on electric car purchase response.