Accelerating electric vehicle adoption through an integrated approach: The interplay of policy, psychology, and environmental consciousness

China's shift toward electric mobility presents an important opportunity to address environmental challenges. Through various demonstration programs and incentive-driven transportation policies, the government is actively promoting electric vehicle (EV) adoption. This study investigates the influence of monetary and non-monetary incentives on EV purchase intention, incorporating environmental knowledge and psychosocial value into an integrated framework. The model combines the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine how internal psychological mechanisms interact with policy incentives. While previous research has primarily focused on functional factors, this study addresses a key gap by exploring how psychosocial value and environmental knowledge shape consumer decisions in the context of incentive policies. Data were collected from 315 respondents in Shanghai, a leading EV demonstration city in China, and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results show that perceived ease of use and usefulness influence attitudes, while attitude and perceived behavioral control strongly predict purchase intention. Environmental knowledge positively moderates the relationship between attitude, perceived behavioral control, and intention. Furthermore, incentive policies enhance consumers' psychosocial value such as perceived success, lifestyle fit, and control over life, thereby motivating EV adoption. Notably, non-monetary incentives have a stronger influence than monetary incentives in enhancing psychosocial value and intention. These findings highlight the importance of combining financial measures with psychological and informational strategies. To accelerate EV adoption, policymakers should prioritize socially meaningful incentives and invest in public environmental education to strengthen both rational and emotional drivers of sustainable behavior.