Public incentives and expectations for electric vehicles: İstanbul field study

In order to prevent greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, toxic gases coming out of their exhausts and noise pollution, the dissemination of electric cars can be suggested as a solution. In the name of the spread of environmentally friendly electric cars, incentives are applied by the public in numerous and different ways. It is aimed to increase the preferability of electric cars with incentive applications that differ from country to country in terms of application. In countries where incentives are applied intensively and effectively, electric cars are more preferred in the market. The aim of thesis is to introduce the public qualified incentive practices applied to electric cars in the world and in Turkey and to reveal the attitudes of the public towards these incentives in the Istanbul sample. The survey data collected from 438 participants from Istanbul were examined by applying multivariate statistical analyses. Compared to successful examples in the world, incentive practices in Turkey remain quite weak and limited. According to the results, incentives that can be applied at the purchase and using phase are more preferred than others. Especially VAT and excise tax exemption and discounted electricity tariff are the incentives that are most important to participants, while the incentive applications that participants least care about are discounted credit, extension of the inspection period and reduction in mandatory traffic insurance. The public will increase the demand for electric cars if the incentives that will be implemented by policymakers are preferred primarily in the form of those that will have the effect of reducing the financial burdens that will arise during the purchase and using phase. Also, a significant number of respondents believe that the spread of electric cars will reduce air pollution. In addition, the intention of participants to prefer domestic brand electric cars is also quite high. According to these results, if incentives is expanded and strengthened together with domestic car production, the market share of electric cars in Turkey can be expected to increase even more.