Determinants of Consumers’ Purchasing Intentions for the Hydrogen-Electric Motorcycle

• Published in: Sustainability 2017-08, Vol.9 (8), p.1447
• Main Authors: Chen, Han-Shen, Tsai, Bi-Kun, Hsieh, Chi-Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Consumers; Electric motorcycles; Electric vehicles; Energy; Energy efficiency; Environmental effects; Exhaust gases; Gasoline; Hydrogen; Motorcycles; Noise pollution; Risk perception; Rule of origin; Sustainability
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su9081447

In recent years, increasing concerns regarding the energy costs and environmental effects of urban motorcycle use have spurred the development of hydrogen-electric motorcycles in Taiwan. Although gasoline-powered motorcycles produce substantial amounts of exhaust and noise pollution, hydrogen-electric motorcycles are highly energy-efficient, relatively quiet, and produce zero emissions, features that suggest their great potential to reduce the problems currently associated with the use of motorcycles in city environments. This study identified the significant external variables that affect consumers’ purchase intentions toward using hydrogen-electric motorcycles. A questionnaire method was employed with a total of 300 questionnaires distributed and 233 usable questionnaires returned, yielding a 78% overall response rate. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to test the research hypothesis. The research concluded that (1) product knowledge positively influenced purchase intentions but negatively affected the perceived risk; (2) perceived quality via hydrogen-electric motorcycles positively influenced the perceived value but negatively affected the perceived risk; (3) perceived risk negatively affected the perceived value; and (4) the perceived value positively affected purchase intentions. This study can be used as a reference for motorcycle manufacturers when planning their marketing strategies.