Phd in INDUSTRIAL AND MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING

Thesis title: Determinants of electric vehicle adoption: the role of consumer behavior in the transition to sustainable mobility

The thesis examines the key factors influencing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), with a particular focus on the role of consumer behavior in the transition towards sustainable mobility. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the study analyzes economic, technological, and perceptual variables that shape purchase intention and actual EV usage. The research is structured into a systematic literature review, an empirical study on the Italian market, and a cross-national comparison between Italy and Germany regarding the perception of charging infrastructure. The investigation highlights both barriers and incentives to adoption, emphasizing the crucial role of public policies, infrastructure availability, and consumer environmental awareness. Furthermore, the study explores the value chain of the Italian charging ecosystem, identifying dominant operational strategies and business models. The findings provide both theoretical and managerial implications, offering a knowledge base for designing more effective incentive policies and optimizing charging infrastructure networks. The research contributes to the academic debate on sustainability in the transportation sector by proposing an integrated analytical framework to understand the dynamics of EV diffusion and the necessary conditions for a successful transition towards a low-impact mobility model.