India has been actively promoting electric vehicles (EVs) as a strategy to decarbonise the road transport sector. Key initiatives, such as purchase subsidies under the FAME scheme and state-level incentives including road tax exemptions, registration fee waivers, and additional purchase subsidies, have been pivotal in driving EV adoption in the country. This study aimed to examine the influence of policy awareness, technical knowledge, and environmental consciousness on EV adoption. The impact of these factors was assessed based on the stated preference of potential vehicle owners in Surat, Kolkata, Pune, and Coimbatore. A random sampling method was used to collect data via interview surveys of 1,555 individuals across these cities. A binary logit model was built to understand the effect of various factors on a buyer’s likelihood of opting for an EV in the next 5 years. Age, gender, education, household monthly income, occupation, vehicle ownership, environmental consciousness, and knowledge of EVs, FAME subsidy, and road tax waiver were independent variables. The results from the model indicate that age, income, employment, and current vehicle ownership significantly influence an individual’s decision to purchase EVs. However, gender and education are insignificant in the decision-making process. Awareness about road tax waiver significantly influences an individual’s choice, whereas awareness about FAME subsidy is insignificant. Further, knowledge about EVs and environmental consciousness positively influences an individual’s likelihood of purchasing EVs.
