Analysis of enablers and barriers in adopting electric vehicles in India: DEMATEL - ISM approach

An Electric Vehicle (EV) refers to an automobile driven by rechargeable batteries. In the current scenario, automobile industry around the globe and India in particular is undergoing massive transformation in the type of mobility viz., from the conventional internal combustion engine driven vehicles (ICEVs) to EVs and hybrid vehicles. India is in its infancy stage on EV adaptation due to multiple factors, both tangible and intangible. In this milieu, it is important to explore the less dissected issues and factors that continue to influence EV adaption in India. Accordingly, this study identifies the most significant enablers and barriers for the adoption of EVs in India. A questionnaire-based survey is conducted and the data are analyzed using statistical and subjective tools. Scientific tools like Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) are integrated to identify the inter-relationships between the enablers and the barriers. The managerial implications from the study have been summarized. The results obtained reveal interesting insights on the factors affecting the adoption of the EVs in India.