Introduction: The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is central to reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainable transportation. While logistical, technological, and economic factors have been widely studied, less attention has been given to psychological determinants of adoption, such as personality traits.
Purpose: This study investigates whether personality, assessed using the Five-Factor Model (FFM), predicts electric vehicle ownership. The objective is to examine how individual differences may inform applied interventions aimed at promoting sustainable mobility choices.
Method: A nationally representative sample of Swedish car owners (N = 1,262) completed the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10). Logistic regression analyses were performed with Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism as predictors and EV ownership as a binary outcome. Income, age, and gender were included as control variables.
Results: Extraversion significantly (p < .001) increased the likelihood of EV ownership, whereas the other traits showed no substantial effects. Individuals with higher levels of extraversion may be more inclined toward visible, innovative, and socially oriented behaviors, facilitating engagement with sustainable technologies.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the role of personality in shaping pro-environmental behavior and emphasize the value of applied psychology in sustainability contexts. Understanding how traits such as extraversion influence adoption can guide targeted interventions, communication strategies, and policymaking.