Examining Factors Affecting the Willingness of Rickshaw Operators to Adopt Battery Operated Rickshaws: The Case of Bhopal, India

Conventionally, public transportation has been the responsibility of the government. In developing countries, however, government-provided public transportation is often inadequate: people’s mobility needs are best met by private modes, such as shared auto-rickshaws. In India, auto-rickshaws serve as a popular last-mile transportation alternative as well as a public transportation substitute. The mode share of auto-rickshaws in major Indian cities is significant. Electrifying this mode will certainly result in a significant reduction in air pollution levels. It is therefore imperative to identify the factors which influence rickshaw operators (ROs)’ willingness to adopt battery-operated rickshaws (BORs) in India. The present study aims to identify and explore the factors that contribute to the adaptability of battery electric vehicles in India and measure the satisfaction level of ROs with the selected factors. By using structural equation modeling, the present research found that, from the viewpoint of 478 ROs, vehicle-related attributes and economy-related attributes are most influential on the adaptability of BORs. Furthermore, the one-way analysis of variance revealed that willingness to adopt BORs is significantly related to the age of the ROs. From the standpoint of government, as well as electric vehicle manufacturers, this study would be helpful in understanding the tastes, expectations, and needs of ROs if they adopt BORs.