Social influence in the global diffusion of alternative fuel vehicles – A meta-analysis

Abstract

Alternative fuel vehicle technologies are needed to mitigate rising greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Social influence is integral to the diffusion of private vehicles which are highly visible and fulfil practical as well as social functions. This paper provides the first meta-analysis of empirical studies which measure the strength of social influence on consumer vehicle choice. A systematic literature review identified 21 studies that examined three types of social influence: interpersonal communication; neighbourhood effect; and conformity with social norms. A random effects meta-analysis found a significant and small to moderate effect of social influence on vehicle choices (r = 0.241, p < 0.001). The overall effect size did not vary significantly between types of social influence nor between types of vehicle (conventional or alternative fuel). However, further analysis using meta-regression found that heterogeneity in social influence effect size across studies was explained by differences in countries' cultural receptiveness to normative influence. These findings have important implications for policy and modelling analysis of alternative fuel vehicle adoption, for which diffusion is both a socially and culturally-mediated process

Investigating the Influence of Consumer Behavior and Governmental Policy on the Diffusion of Electric Vehicles in Beijing, China

“…Actual user experience greatly affects the reputation of the brand and the market prospects of the model, and car enterprises should pay close attention. This sort of social influence has also been found in the other studies [57,58], and is considered to be a variable in the EV market model [8,59]. has also been found in the other studies [57,58], and is considered to be a variable in the EV market model [8,59].…”

User decision-making in transitions to electrified, autonomous, shared or reduced mobility

“…the exchange of information between two or more people, including through social networks), neighbourhood effect (observing those in close proximity), and conformity with social norms (what people do and think they should do) have an effect on individuals' vehicle choices. Further, social influences have been found to compensate for some of the negative effect of higher costs or lower ranges of EV options (Pettifor et al, 2017). It is plausible that different social influences operate at different stages of EV adoption (as suggested in the reflexive layers framework; Axsen & Kurani, 2014): an actor might initially become aware of EVs through social networks; they then assess the EV's social and personal advantages as a product -is it both 'green' and useful; finally, the EV and its use become part of the actor's self-concept.…”

Investigating the factors influencing the uptake of electric vehicles in Beijing, China: Statistical and spatial perspectives

“…Social influence is a common factor in the studies of diffusion (e.g., innovation diffusion) (Bakshy et al, 2009;Bakshy et al, 2012;Li et al, 2017;Li et al, 2013b;Pettifor et al, 2017;Young, 2009). It is generally argued that individual behaviour, including the purchase behaviour of EVs, could be influenced through the social networks of individuals.…”

“…Essentially, individual behaviour could be influenced by social media and advertisements, their neighbours and friends through the so-called global, neighbour and fiend social networks, respectively. These social influences have also been investigated in the studies of EV adoption (Axsen et al, 2013;Barth et al, 2016;Jansson et al, 2017;Liu et al, 2017;Moons and De Pelsmacker, 2012;Ozaki and Sevastyanova, 2011;Pettifor et al, 2017).…”