Consumer Perception towards Electric Vehicles in Kasaragod District of Kerala

Abstract

This focused on understanding consumer perception towards electric vehicles (EVs). The shift towards electric mobility is gaining momentum worldwide, driven by increasing environmental concerns, technological advancements, rising fuel prices, and proactive government policies. In India, while metro cities are witnessing steady growth in EV adoption, rural and semi-urban areas like Kasaragod present a unique landscape where awareness, affordability, and infrastructure still pose significant challenges. This was undertaken to assess how consumers perceive electric vehicles, identify the factors influencing their buying decisions, and evaluate the major barriers preventing the widespread adoption of EVs in the region. This used structured questionnaire to gather data to measure their level of awareness about electric vehicles, understand their attitudes towards environmental sustainability, gauge their willingness to shift from conventional vehicles to EVs, and identify the critical factors they consider when making vehicle purchase decisions. The findings reveal that although awareness about electric cars is reasonably high among the population, actual adoption rates remain low. Many consumers appreciate the advantages of EVs, such as lower running costs, reduced carbon emissions, and government incentives. However, concerns regarding the high initial purchase cost, limited availability of charging infrastructure, range anxiety, long charging times, and uncertainties about battery life and maintenance costs are major deterrents influencing consumer decisions. It is seen that consumer perception towards electric vehicles is cautiously optimistic. While there is a growing interest in the concept of electric mobility, significant concerns remain that must be addressed to translate interest into actual adoption. If the identified barriers are systematically tackled through policy interventions, infrastructure development, technological innovation, and continuous consumer engagement has the potential to emerge as a promising market for electric vehicles in the coming years. This provides valuable insights to promote sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions in the urban regions of Kerala.