The evolution of determinants influencing the large-scale promotion of battery electric vehicle: Empirical study of Tianjin, China

The large-scale promotion of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is one of the effective measures to reduce fossil fuel consumption and mitigate climate change, which has burgeoned in recent years. The preferential policies have gradually receded in recent years as BEVs are increasingly competitive against traditional fossil fuel vehicles in recent years. Employing data from two surveys conducted in Tianjin, China, in 2016 and 2023, this study investigates the evolving determinants of BEVs promotion from the perspective of public perception. Employing the structural equation modeling and regression analysis, three critical findings emerge from the study: (1) Vehicle performance remains the primary concern, with battery life scoring the highest mean of 4.44 and range anxiety a score of 4.30, while technological breakthroughs are viewed as the primary driver of large-scale promotion of BEVs; (2) Charging infrastructure has surpassed financial cost as the second most critical factor, with about 80 % of respondents supporting increased deployment in public and highway spaces; (3) Consumers concern more about the operation cost than the purchase cost, with battery replacement cost as the primary financial cost in BEV promotion. These findings demonstrate a shift from policy-driven to market-driven adoption of BEVs, highlighting the need for future policy reforms to prioritize technological innovation, charging efficiency, cost control promotion strategy, and operation management.