Explaining electric mobility technologies adoption: a meta-analysis of acceptance mechanisms across contexts

• Meta-analysis of EMT adoption based on the UTAUT2 framework. • Performance expectancy shows the strongest effect, followed by hedonic motivation, habit, and price value. • Social influence, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions show smaller but significant effects. • Geographical region and technological complexity can act as moderating variables. The adoption of electric mobility technologies (EMTs) is a key element of current efforts to decarbonize transport and advance sustainable mobility. Yet, despite the rapid growth of empirical research on EMTs adoption, the available evidence remains scattered and, in many cases, inconsistent across regions and technology categories. Studies drawing on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2), in particular, report substantial variation in the magnitude and statistical significance of core relationships, which limits the generalizability of single-study conclusions. To address this limitation, this study conducts a meta -analysis of UTAUT2-based empirical research on EMTs adoption. Evidence is synthesized from 43 peer-reviewed quantitative studies conducted across different regional settings. The findings show statistically significant associations between all seven UTAUT2 constructs and behavioral intention to adopt EMTs. Performance expectancy yields the largest pooled effect, followed by hedonic motivation, habit, and price value. Social influence, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions also exhibit significant relationships, although with smaller pooled effects. In addition, the findings suggest that geographical region and technological complexity may act as moderating factors within the UTAUT2 framework. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and researchers, emphasizing key psychological factors and contextual variations that can guide the development of targeted strategies to foster EMTs adoption.