Exploring Electric Vehicle Intention Among Malaysian Car Users: Insights from an Integrated TPB– UTAUT Model

Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely recognized as a vital pathway to sustainable mobility, yet their adoption remains limited in many emerging markets, including Malaysia. Despite the presence of policy incentives under the National Automotive Policy (NAP 2020/2030), consumer uptake is hampered by affordability concerns, infrastructural constraints, and distinct social and cultural factors. This study investigates the determinants of Malaysian car users’ intention to adopt EVs through an integrated framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Utilizing a cross-sectional survey of 50 respondents, the study assessed attitude (ATT), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FC), and intention to adopt EVs (IEV), employing a five-point Likert scale. Reliability analysis established strong internal consistency across constructs. Regression analyses revealed that both attitude and social influence emerged as significant predictors of EV adoption intention, whereas facilitating conditions did not reach statistical significance. The study’s theoretical contribution lies in extending the integrated TPB–UTAUT framework to the Malaysian EV market, highlighting the salient interplay of individual attitudes and peer influence while exposing persistent infrastructural and policy readiness gaps. Practically, the findings inform policymakers and industry stakeholders by providing targeted recommendations to accelerate mainstream EV adoption in Malaysia.

Electric vehicles; Intention; Theory of Planned Behaviour

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