Electric vehicle adoption among urban drivers in Ghana: Willingness and actual usage within the Accra Metropolis.

Abstract

This study investigates urban drivers’ willingness to adopt Electric Vehicles (EVs) and the actual continued usage of EVs in the Accra Metropolis, while also exploring the government’s role in shaping sustainable transport adoption. Drawing on an adapted Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research assesses perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and five external constructs: availability of infrastructure, government intervention, environmental concern, perceived risk, and socio-cultural influence. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and expert interviews, the study found that for internal combustion engine (ICE) drivers, environmental concern positively influences perceived usefulness, while perceived risk significantly reduces both perceived usefulness and ease of use. Overall, ICE drivers demonstrate cautious attitudes toward EV adoption, marked by low perceptions of utility and usability. Additionally, an assessment of the determinants of continued use among current EV drivers revealed that only perceived risk significantly predicted actual usage, indicating that sustained EV use depends heavily on ongoing risk management rather than initial environmental motives. Qualitatively, the research identified a critical policy-practice gap: while the government prioritizes incentives for public transport and local manufacturing, drivers expect direct personal incentives and visible, state-led infrastructure expansion. The study recommends enhancing public environmental education, improving transparency around EV performance to mitigate risk perceptions, and implementing targeted, consumer-aligned policies and infrastructure development to boost driver willingness and promote a sustained EV transition in Ghana.