IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i19p12163-d925362.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Attitudes of Drivers towards Electric Vehicles in Kuwait

Author

Listed:
  • Andri Ottesen

    (LSE Middle East Centre (MEC)—Sustainability Research and Consultancy (CSRC), Australian University, West Mishref P.O. Box 1411, Kuwait)

  • Sumayya Banna

    (LSE Middle East Centre (MEC), Arab Open University, Ardiya P.O. Box 830, Kuwait)

  • Basil Alzougool

    (LSE Middle East Centre (MEC), Arab Open University, Ardiya P.O. Box 830, Kuwait)

Abstract

Although researchers have started to examine the landscape of electric vehicles (EVs) around the world, very little research has examined this phenomenon in Kuwait. In addition, limited research has explored it among drivers. Kuwait constitutes a very promising market for EVs because there is a need to lower GHG emissions and improve the air quality in Kuwait. This study therefore explored the attitudes of conventional car internal combustion engine (ICE) drivers towards EVs in Kuwait, particularly identifying attributes, features, enablers, and barriers of EVs that are considered important by potential consumers in Kuwait. This study utilized a mixed method approach in terms of quantitative data and qualitative data from a sample of 472 drivers to accomplish the main objectives of this study. The study showed that more than half of participants would buy an EV within the next 3 years, and they would buy if several conditions were met. That includes a cheaper purchase price with the assistance of policies controlled by the government along with the availability of suitable infrastructure for EVs relating to charging stations, fast lanes, and free parking spaces. More than 40% of participants would also seriously start thinking about buying an EV if the gas/fuel prices increased by between 50 and 199%. More than 40% of participants thought that EVs are safe in relation to fire and car crashes. Furthermore, approximately half of participants would pay 6–20% more for an EV that is both environmentally friendly and much quicker than gasoline cars. In addition, participants would also prefer EVs over gasoline cars in the future for their environmental, economic, and technological values. More importantly, the study yielded many significant findings, such as the demanded and preferred features of EVs and reflections on the readiness of the Kuwaiti market.

Suggested Citation

  • Andri Ottesen & Sumayya Banna & Basil Alzougool, 2022. "Attitudes of Drivers towards Electric Vehicles in Kuwait," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12163-:d:925362
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12163/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12163/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Buranelli de Oliveira, Marina & Moretti Ribeiro da Silva, Hermes & Jugend, Daniel & De Camargo Fiorini, Paula & Paro, Carlos Eduardo, 2022. "Factors influencing the intention to use electric cars in Brazil," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 418-433.
    2. Sukhee Kim & Jungyoon Choi & Yongju Yi & Hyungjun Kim, 2022. "Analysis of Influencing Factors in Purchasing Electric Vehicles Using a Structural Equation Model: Focused on Suwon City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Costanza Nosi & Tommaso Pucci & Cecilia Silvestri & Barbara Aquilani, 2017. "Does Value Co-Creation Really Matter? An Investigation of Italian Millennials Intention to Buy Electric Cars," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-21, November.
    4. Jonatan J. Gómez Vilchez & Austin Smyth & Luke Kelleher & Hui Lu & Charlene Rohr & Gillian Harrison & Christian Thiel, 2019. "Electric Car Purchase Price as a Factor Determining Consumers’ Choice and their Views on Incentives in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Cox, Brian & Bauer, Christian & Mendoza Beltran, Angelica & van Vuuren, Detlef P. & Mutel, Christopher L., 2020. "Life cycle environmental and cost comparison of current and future passenger cars under different energy scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    6. Zhang, Qi & Li, Hailong & Zhu, Lijing & Campana, Pietro Elia & Lu, Huihui & Wallin, Fredrik & Sun, Qie, 2018. "Factors influencing the economics of public charging infrastructures for EV – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 500-509.
    7. Mandys, F., 2021. "Electric vehicles and consumer choices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    8. Sperling, Daniel, 2003. "Cleaner Vehicles - Handbook 4: Transport and the Environment," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt5pt6k0pg, University of California Transportation Center.
    9. Chanwit Kongklaew & Khamphe Phoungthong & Chanwit Prabpayak & Md. Shahariar Chowdhury & Imran Khan & Nuttaya Yuangyai & Chumpol Yuangyai & Kuaanan Techato, 2021. "Barriers to Electric Vehicle Adoption in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-13, November.
    10. James Archsmith & Erich Muehlegger & David S. Rapson, 2022. "Future Paths of Electric Vehicle Adoption in the United States: Predictable Determinants, Obstacles, and Opportunities," Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(1), pages 71-110.
    11. Anna Kowalska-Pyzalska & Rafał Michalski & Marek Kott & Anna Skowrońska-Szmer & Joanna Kott, 2021. "Consumer preferences towards alternative fuel vehicles. Results from the conjoint analysis," WORking papers in Management Science (WORMS) WORMS/21/02, Department of Operations Research and Business Intelligence, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
    12. Salpie S. Djoundourian, 2021. "Response of the Arab world to climate change challenges and the Paris agreement," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 469-491, September.
    13. Kim, Moon-Koo & Oh, Jeesun & Park, Jong-Hyun & Joo, Changlim, 2018. "Perceived value and adoption intention for electric vehicles in Korea: Moderating effects of environmental traits and government supports," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 799-809.
    14. Elena Higueras-Castillo & Sebastian Molinillo & J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak & Francisco Liébana-Cabanillas, 2019. "Perceived Value and Customer Adoption of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-15, September.
    15. Driscoll, Áine & Lyons, Seán & Mariuzzo, Franco & Tol, Richard S.J., 2013. "Simulating demand for electric vehicles using revealed preference data," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 686-696.
    16. Elena Higueras-Castillo & Sebastian Molinillo & J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak & Francisco Liébana-Cabanillas, 2020. "Potential Early Adopters of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in Spain—Towards a Customer Profile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, May.
    17. Adnan, Nadia & Md Nordin, Shahrina & Hadi Amini, M. & Langove, Naseebullah, 2018. "What make consumer sign up to PHEVs? Predicting Malaysian consumer behavior in adoption of PHEVs," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 259-278.
    18. Mariano Gallo & Mario Marinelli, 2020. "Sustainable Mobility: A Review of Possible Actions and Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-39, September.
    19. Vassileva, Iana & Campillo, Javier, 2017. "Adoption barriers for electric vehicles: Experiences from early adopters in Sweden," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 632-641.
    20. Schuitema, Geertje & Anable, Jillian & Skippon, Stephen & Kinnear, Neale, 2013. "The role of instrumental, hedonic and symbolic attributes in the intention to adopt electric vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 39-49.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andri Ottesen & Sumayya Banna & Basil Alzougool, 2023. "Women Will Drive the Demand for EVs in the Middle East over the Next 10 Years—Lessons from Today’s Kuwait and 1960s USA," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-24, April.
    2. Dinh Van Hiep & Nam Hoai Tran & Nguyen Anh Tuan & Tran Manh Hung & Ngo Viet Duc & Hoang Tung, 2023. "Assessment of Electric Two-Wheelers Development in Establishing a National E-Mobility Roadmap to Promote Sustainable Transport in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-25, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lin, Boqiang & Shi, Lei, 2022. "Do environmental quality and policy changes affect the evolution of consumers’ intentions to buy new energy vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    2. Shi, Lei & Wu, Rongxin & Lin, Boqiang, 2023. "Where will go for electric vehicles in China after the government subsidy incentives are abolished? A controversial consumer perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).
    3. Ye, Fei & Kang, Wanlin & Li, Lixu & Wang, Zhiqiang, 2021. "Why do consumers choose to buy electric vehicles? A paired data analysis of purchase intention configurations," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 14-27.
    4. Hardman, Scott & Tal, Gil, 2021. "Discontinuance Among California’s Electric Vehicle Buyers: Why are Some Consumers Abandoning Electric Vehicles?," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt11n6f4hs, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    5. Qingyou Yan & Guangyu Qin & Meijuan Zhang & Bowen Xiao, 2019. "Research on Real Purchasing Behavior Analysis of Electric Cars in Beijing Based on Structural Equation Modeling and Multinomial Logit Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Madhusudhan Adhikari & Laxman Prasad Ghimire & Yeonbae Kim & Prakash Aryal & Sundar Bahadur Khadka, 2020. "Identification and Analysis of Barriers against Electric Vehicle Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    7. Zulfiqar Ali Lashari & Joonho Ko & Junseok Jang, 2021. "Consumers’ Intention to Purchase Electric Vehicles: Influences of User Attitude and Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-14, June.
    8. Zulfiqar Ali Lashari & Joonho Ko & Seunghyun Jung & Sungtaek Choi, 2022. "Choices of Potential Car Buyers Regarding Alternative Fuel Vehicles in South Korea: A Discrete Choice Modeling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Eunsung Kim & Eunnyeong Heo, 2019. "Key Drivers behind the Adoption of Electric Vehicle in Korea: An Analysis of the Revealed Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Huang, Youlin & Qian, Lixian, 2021. "Consumer adoption of electric vehicles in alternative business models," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    11. Ruyu Xie & Liren An & Nosheena Yasir, 2022. "How Innovative Characteristics Influence Consumers’ Intention to Purchase Electric Vehicle: A Moderating Role of Lifestyle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-24, April.
    12. Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo, 2019. "Who will buy electric vehicles after early adopters? Using machine learning to identify the electric vehicle mainstream market," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 243-254.
    13. Wojciech Lewicki & Wojciech Drozdz & Piotr Wroblewski & Krzysztof Zarna, 2021. "The Road to Electromobility in Poland: Consumer Attitude Assessment," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 28-39.
    14. Jose Esteves & Daniel Alonso-Martínez & Guillermo de Haro, 2021. "Profiling Spanish Prospective Buyers of Electric Vehicles Based on Demographics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    15. Caulfield, Brian & Furszyfer, Dylan & Stefaniec, Agnieszka & Foley, Aoife, 2022. "Measuring the equity impacts of government subsidies for electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    16. Hailin Xiao & Xiaocai Zhang, 2022. "The Market Disruption Path of Green-Oriented Trajectory-Transformed Technology Innovation: A Study of Consumer Lifestyles during the “Chasm” in China’s Electric Vehicle Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-27, July.
    17. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Axsen, Jonn, 2018. "Functional, symbolic and societal frames for automobility: Implications for sustainability transitions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 730-746.
    18. Muhammad Yaseen Bhutto & Mussadiq Ali Khan & Myriam Ertz & Haowei Sun, 2022. "Investigating the Role of Ethical Self-Identity and Its Effect on Consumption Values and Intentions to Adopt Green Vehicles among Generation Z," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, March.
    19. Larson, Paul D. & Viáfara, Jairo & Parsons, Robert V. & Elias, Arne, 2014. "Consumer attitudes about electric cars: Pricing analysis and policy implications," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 299-314.
    20. Elena Higueras-Castillo & Sebastian Molinillo & J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak & Francisco Liébana-Cabanillas, 2020. "Potential Early Adopters of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in Spain—Towards a Customer Profile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12163-:d:925362. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.