Exploring the effects of information sources on consumers' purchase intentions for electric vehicles: evidence from China

This study aims to explore the relationship between different electric vehicle (EV) information sources and consumers' psychological perceptions and purchase intentions for EVs. Based on the survey data from 1,311 respondents in pilot cities, the analysis results show that authority and peer sources are positively associated with economic, psychological, and environmental benefits and negatively correlated with financial, performance, and physical safety risks. Moreover, media sources are positively associated with the psychological and environmental benefits of EVs but negatively related to performance and physical safety risks. Beyond our expectation, media sources lack significant impact on financial risk and economic benefit. Furthermore, financial, performance, and physical safety risks are negatively associated with purchase intention; whereas psychological and economic benefits are positively related to purchase intention. Unfortunately, the relationship between environmental benefit and purchase intention has not been confirmed. Additionally, policy recommendations for the further promotion of EVs are discussed.