GOVERNMENT POLICY, PERCEIVED EASE OF USE, PERCEIVED USEFULNESS, ATTITUDE TOWARDS USE, AND INTENTION TO USE AFFECTING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE USAGE IN BANGKOK
The electric vehicle (EV) industry is a high-value sector that merges the energy, automotive, and technology industries. Significant investments are required to develop products, services, and infrastructure to support the growth of electric vehicles. Electric cars are essential for Thailand, which has long been a production base for the automotive industry. However, the country faces challenges due to a lack of advanced technological knowledge and skilled personnel necessary for research and development aimed at commercial production. This study aims to1) examine the levels of government policy, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards use, behavioral intention, and the sustainability of EV usage in Bangkok. 2) Investigate the influence of these factors on the sustainability of EV usage in Bangkok. 3) Develop a sustainability model for EV usage in Bangkok. This research adopts a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. For the quantitative part, the sample comprises 360 individuals who use fully electric vehicles registered under private car regulations for up to 7 passengers in Bangkok. The sample size was determined using a criterion of 20 times the number of observed variables, with a multi-stage sampling method, and data collected through questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling. For the qualitative part, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 key informants, including EV business operators and EV experts. The findings reveal that: 1) government policy, perceived usefulness, attitude towards use, behavioral intention, and the sustainability of EV usage in Bangkok are at high levels, while perceived ease of use is at a moderate level. 2) Government policy, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards use, and behavioral intention significantly influence the sustainability of EV usage in Bangkok at the 0.05 significance level. 3) The developed model, named the 3PABS Model (P = Perceived Usefulness, P = Perceived Ease of Use, P = Public Policy, A = Attitude towards Use, B = Behavioral Intention to Use.) In addition, the qualitative results indicated that EV operators must incorporate modern technologies to monitor and manage vehicle status, adhere to international standards for high-performance products, provide excellent after-sales service, offer training on system usage via applications, and enhance safety and efficiency in driving. These findings can guide businesses in promoting the sustainable use of EVs in Bangkok in the future.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) / Sustainability / Government Policy / Perceived Usefulness / Behavioral Intention.