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Consumer purchase intention towards environmentally friendly vehicles: an empirical investigation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Abstract

This paper examines whether attitudes towards electric vehicles (ATEVs), subjective norms (SNs) and perceived behavioural control (PBC) have significant associations with consumer purchase intention (PI) and the purchase behaviour of environmentally friendly vehicles (EFVs). The results from the survey questionnaires are analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings of this paper indicate that ATEV, SN and PBC significantly influence PI. This finding also indicates that environmental consequence and individual preferences do not influence the PI of the respondents. We found that Malaysian car owners are largely unaware of the greenhouse effects on the environment or attach to it little importance, which is reflected in their PI towards EFVs. The outcomes of this study could help policymakers design programmes to influence attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and purchase behaviour to prevent further air pollution and reduce CO2 emissions from the transportation sector.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, 50728, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Rafia Afroz, Rulia Akhtar & Jarita Bt Duasa

  2. Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Muhammad Mehedi Masud

  3. Research Management Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Md. Ashraful Islam

Authors
  1. Rafia Afroz
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  2. Muhammad Mehedi Masud
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  3. Rulia Akhtar
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  4. Md. Ashraful Islam
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  5. Jarita Bt Duasa
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Correspondence to Rulia Akhtar.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Afroz, R., Masud, M.M., Akhtar, R. et al. Consumer purchase intention towards environmentally friendly vehicles: an empirical investigation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 16153–16163 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4841-8

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