Acting today for a better tomorrow: examining the effect of consideration of future consequences on the adoption of Electric Cars

Air pollution is one of the major environmental issues worldwide. Individuals can contribute by adopting eco-friendly practices, such as reducing energy consumption, using public transportation, and adopting electric cars (EC). However, the adoption of EC has been a challenge, and this study investigates the role of consideration of future consequences (CFC) in shaping consumers’ intention to purchase. It examines how CFC influences key attributes such as problem awareness, outcome efficacy, personal norms, and consumers' attitudes towards EC, using a sample of 491 individuals and structural equation modelling. The findings reveal a significant and positive relationship between CFC and problem awareness, and it also positively influences outcome efficacy, personal norms and attitude. The study provides insights for marketers and policymakers, emphasising the importance of leveraging consumers’ future-oriented thinking to accelerate the adoption of EC and thereby mitigate the environmental risks associated with air pollution.