NAVIGATING THE CURRENT: A COMPREHENSIVE SYNTHESIS OF CONSUMER RESISTANCE AND MARKET OBSTACLES TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE DIFFUSION
The global transition toward electrified transportation has reached a critical structural turning point. While early market penetration was catalyzed by aggressive fiscal incentives, purchase subsidies, and regulatory mandates, the subsequent transition from early adopters to mainstream mass-market consumers has exposed deep-seated friction. This paper presents a systematic synthesis of the multi-dimensional barriers inhibiting the universal diffusion of Electric Vehicles (EVs). Adopting a multi-disciplinary framework, we evaluate and classify the prevailing obstacles into four core socio-technical pillars: infrastructural vulnerabilities (charging point density and multi-unit dwelling constraints), economic headwinds (high upfront capital premiums, total cost of ownership uncertainties, and resale market volatility), behavioral and psychological resistance (persistent range anxiety and legacy habits), and operational liabilities. Furthermore, this study critically examines the "incentive phase-out paradox," analyzing the compounding market friction that occurs when governments roll back financial support mechanisms before vehicles achieve true organic price parity. By integrating empirical findings across diverse regional contexts, this paper maps the current landscape of consumer resistance and offers a strategic blueprint for policymakers and energy stakeholders to transition from thin, incentive-driven adoption to structural, mass-market saturation.
Pereira, C. S. (2026). Navigating the Current: A Comprehensive Synthesis of Consumer Resistance and Market Obstacles to Electric Vehicle Diffusion. International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, 02(6). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i6.095
Pereira, Carrel. "Navigating the Current: A Comprehensive Synthesis of Consumer Resistance and Market Obstacles to Electric Vehicle Diffusion." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, vol. 02, no. 6, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i6.095.
Pereira, Carrel. "Navigating the Current: A Comprehensive Synthesis of Consumer Resistance and Market Obstacles to Electric Vehicle Diffusion." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology 02, no. 6 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i6.095.
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