Abstract:
The transition to sustainable urban mobility through electric bus (EB) adoption requires an indepth understanding of user perceptions and influencing factors. This study evaluates commuters’ perceptions of electric bus adoption in Kigali City, Rwanda, with the aim of identifying key determinants that drive or hinder the shift from conventional buses to electric alternatives. Guided by four research objectives, the study first identified critical adoption factors through a literature review, which included service quality attributes (speed, safety, reliability, accessibility), environmental and health benefits, and information availability.
A structured survey was administered to 417 respondents aged 18 and above, representing current users of various public transport modes in Kigali. Data were collected using a Google Form questionnaire focusing on demographics, travel behaviour, and perception of electric buses across dimensions of importance and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were employed for perception for importance-satisfaction average and ranking analysis. Furthermore, statistical significance of key adoption factors was assessed using non-parametric methods in SPSS.
Findings revealed significant perception gaps in core service quality factors—respondents rated safety, reliability, accessibility, and information availability as highly important yet poorly satisfying. These same factors were also statistically significant predictors of EB adoption, with speed p < 0.001, safety p = 0.008, accessibility p = 0.039, reliability p = 0.049, and information availability p < 0.001 emerging as critical. Environmental and personal health benefits, particularly improved air quality, were also strongly influential p < 0.001. The study concludes that electric bus adoption in Kigali hinges not only on environmental consciousness but more critically on service quality that aligns with user priorities. Accordingly, recommendations emphasize a dual strategy of operational excellence and targeted public awareness, focusing on health, safety, and accessibility. A successful transition to electric mobility in Kigali will depend on delivering a superior transit experience—one that is not just greener, but fundamentally better for all users.
