From Innovation to Acceptance: The Role of Consumer Trust in Intelligent Electric Vehicles

Abstract

The diffusion of intelligent electric vehicles represents a transformative shift in modern mobility, driven by advanced artificial intelligence, autonomous driving systems, Internet of Things integration, and sustainable design frameworks. Although these innovations promise enhanced safety, efficiency, and environmental performance, consumer trust remains a critical prerequisite for widespread adoption. This study investigates the extent of consumer trust in AI-powered EV features and examines the key drivers influencing trust in self-driving and eco-friendly electric vehicle technologies. A descriptive and analytical research design was employed, drawing data from 100 purposively selected EV users in Thiruvananthapuram district. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire, and the Mann–Whitney U test was conducted to identify gender-based differences in trust perceptions. The results reveal that female consumers demonstrate significantly higher trust in dimensions related to safety, privacy, cybersecurity, environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and willingness to adopt intelligent EVs, while perceptions of reliability, software updates, usability, brand credibility, and social influence remain gender-neutral. The findings underscore that trust in intelligent EVs is shaped by risk-sensitive and value-driven considerations, emphasizing the necessity for transparent safety evidence, ethical data governance, and verifiable sustainability commitments. The study concludes that technological innovation alone is insufficient; robust trust-building mechanisms and credible communication strategies are essential to accelerate consumer acceptance and support the transition toward autonomous and eco-sustainable mobility ecosystems.

Introduction

The study examines consumer trust in intelligent electric vehicles (IEVs), focusing on AI-driven features, self-driving capabilities, and sustainability aspects. Modern EVs are increasingly advanced digital systems integrating AI, IoT, autonomous driving, predictive diagnostics, and smart energy management. However, consumer adoption depends heavily on trust, which is shaped by concerns over safety, data privacy, cybersecurity, environmental credibility, and ethical governance.

Literature shows that trust is a key factor influencing EV adoption and is affected by transparency, perceived safety, policy support, brand reputation, and information reliability. Trust varies across cultural and user contexts, making it a complex and multidimensional construct.

The technological landscape of IEVs includes autonomous driving systems, predictive maintenance, intelligent energy management, human–machine interfaces, and vehicle connectivity networks. Despite these innovations, trust remains essential for acceptance due to risks related to AI errors, data misuse, and safety uncertainties.

Key determinants of trust include safety and autonomous system reliability, technological performance, privacy and cybersecurity, user experience, environmental sustainability, brand transparency, infrastructure support, regulatory certification, social influence, and user familiarity.

Methodologically, the study surveyed 100 EV users in Thiruvananthapuram using questionnaires and analyzed data using SPSS with Mann–Whitney U tests.

Findings show significant gender differences: female respondents generally report higher trust than males across many dimensions, especially in safety, data privacy, cybersecurity, regulatory assurance, and environmental sustainability. However, no major differences appear in system reliability, usability, brand trust, or social influence.

Conclusion

[1] Köster, N., & Salge, T. O. (2021). Paving the way for trust in autonomous vehicles–How OEMs, authorities and certifiers can foster customers’ trust in AVs (pp. 29–39). Springer Vieweg, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-34754-3_3 [2] Kottala, S. Y., Chanagala, S., Balaji, C., Venkataram Reddy, V., & Babu, G. N. P. V. (2025). Exploring electric vehicle consumer behavior: impact of digital innovation, environmental concern, perceived value, and social influence on purchase intentions. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2025.1655074 [3] LI, K., Hashim, H., & Jaharuddin, N. S. (2025). The mediating role of policy in shaping consumer attitudes and purchase behaviour of intelligent connected vehicles in China. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 15(8), 186–197. https://doi.org/10.55493/5007.v15i8.5525 [4] Mali, R. M., Shinde, S. E., & Waghulkar, S. (2024). Exploring interrelationships among factors influencing consumer trust in ai-driven vehicles: a correlation analysis. ShodhKosh Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i6.2024.5548 [5] Rahi, S., Abd Ghani, M., Alghizzawi, M., Rashid, A., & Rasheed, R. (2025). Understanding the electric vehicle consumers’ AWE experience and intention to recommend electric vehicles with the moderating effect of trust in sustainable manufacturers. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration. https://doi.org/10.1108/apjba-12-2024-0675 [6] Rakhmedova, M., Mukhitdinova, D., Botirov, A., Tangirberdieva, G., Karimov, A., & Khurazov, I. (2025). Leveraging Neural Networks for Consumer Trust in Safer Vehicles. Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics Book Series, 285–304. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-0442-7.ch019 [7] Souissi, I., Abidi, R., Ben Azzouna, N., Berradia, T., & Ben Said, L. (2023). ECOTRUST: A novel model for Energy Consumption TRUST assurance in electric vehicular networks. Ad Hoc Networks, 103246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2023.103246 [8] Utama, A. P. (2025). Eco-driven: The Role of Green Lifestyle, Trust, and Brand Image in Forming Interest in Buying Electric Vehicles in Indonesia. KnE Social Sciences, 10(22), 151–164. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v10i22.19745 [9] Yu, T., & Teoh, A. P. (2023). The Role of Trust in Predicting Behavioral Intention to Use Electric Car-sharing Services: Evidence from China. 333–338. https://doi.org/10.1109/icoict58202.2023.10262702 [10] Zhang, W., Wang, S., Wan, L., Zhang, Z., & Zhao, D. (2022). Information perspective for understanding consumers’ perceptions of electric vehicles and adoption intentions. Transportation Research Part D-Transport and Environment, 102, 103157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.103157

References

[1] Köster, N., & Salge, T. O. (2021). Paving the way for trust in autonomous vehicles–How OEMs, authorities and certifiers can foster customers’ trust in AVs (pp. 29–39). Springer Vieweg, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-34754-3_3 [2] Kottala, S. Y., Chanagala, S., Balaji, C., Venkataram Reddy, V., & Babu, G. N. P. V. (2025). Exploring electric vehicle consumer behavior: impact of digital innovation, environmental concern, perceived value, and social influence on purchase intentions. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2025.1655074 [3] LI, K., Hashim, H., & Jaharuddin, N. S. (2025). The mediating role of policy in shaping consumer attitudes and purchase behaviour of intelligent connected vehicles in China. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 15(8), 186–197. https://doi.org/10.55493/5007.v15i8.5525 [4] Mali, R. M., Shinde, S. E., & Waghulkar, S. (2024). Exploring interrelationships among factors influencing consumer trust in ai-driven vehicles: a correlation analysis. ShodhKosh Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i6.2024.5548 [5] Rahi, S., Abd Ghani, M., Alghizzawi, M., Rashid, A., & Rasheed, R. (2025). Understanding the electric vehicle consumers’ AWE experience and intention to recommend electric vehicles with the moderating effect of trust in sustainable manufacturers. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration. https://doi.org/10.1108/apjba-12-2024-0675 [6] Rakhmedova, M., Mukhitdinova, D., Botirov, A., Tangirberdieva, G., Karimov, A., & Khurazov, I. (2025). Leveraging Neural Networks for Consumer Trust in Safer Vehicles. Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics Book Series, 285–304. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-0442-7.ch019 [7] Souissi, I., Abidi, R., Ben Azzouna, N., Berradia, T., & Ben Said, L. (2023). ECOTRUST: A novel model for Energy Consumption TRUST assurance in electric vehicular networks. Ad Hoc Networks, 103246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2023.103246 [8] Utama, A. P. (2025). Eco-driven: The Role of Green Lifestyle, Trust, and Brand Image in Forming Interest in Buying Electric Vehicles in Indonesia. KnE Social Sciences, 10(22), 151–164. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v10i22.19745 [9] Yu, T., & Teoh, A. P. (2023). The Role of Trust in Predicting Behavioral Intention to Use Electric Car-sharing Services: Evidence from China. 333–338. https://doi.org/10.1109/icoict58202.2023.10262702 [10] Zhang, W., Wang, S., Wan, L., Zhang, Z., & Zhao, D. (2022). Information perspective for understanding consumers’ perceptions of electric vehicles and adoption intentions. Transportation Research Part D-Transport and Environment, 102, 103157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.103157

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Ayswarya K. P., Dr. P. Yasodha. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.