Table 6 Group comparisons (ANOVAs and Chi-square tests) for differences in socio-demographics and personality characteristics (n = 125)

Age

M = 31.4 years (SD = 10.7)

M = 35.8 years (SD = 13.4)

M = 36.5 years (SD = 16.0)

p = n.s.

Gender

50.0% female, 50.0% male

63.3% female, 36.7% male

29.8% female, 70.2% male

\(\chi ^{2}(2)\,=\,9.75\), p = 0.008

Education*

2.6% Education Level 1, 26.3% Education Level 2, 71.1% Education Level 3

6.7% Education Level 1, 60.0% Education Level 2, 33.3% Education Level 3

3.5% Education Level 1, 29.8% Education Level 2, 66.7% Education Level 3

\(\chi ^{2}(4)\,=\,11.89\), p = 0.018

Place of residence

55.3% city center, 36.8% city outskirts / suburb, 7.9% rural area

53.3% city center, 23.3% city outskirts / suburb, 23.3% rural area

42.1% city center, 40.4% city outskirts / suburb, 17.5% rural area

p = n.s.

Field Expertise

13.2% yes, 86.8% no

10.0% yes, 90.0% no

22.8% yes, 77.2% no

p = n.s.

Technical self-efficacy

M = 4.36 (SD = 1.16)

M = 3.88 (SD = 1.30)

M = 4.35 (SD = 1.19)

p = n.s.

Personal innovativeness

M = 3.52 (SD = 1.02)

M = 3.33 (SD = 1.06)

M = 3.56 (SD = 1.29)

p = n.s.

Awareness for environment and climate change

M = 4.77 (SD = 0.91)

M = 4.86 (SD = 0.72)

M = 4.78 (SD = 0.71)

p = n.s.

Perceived responsibility for environmental problems

M = 4.11 (SD = 0.91)

M = 3.63 (SD = 1.03)

M = 4.01 (SD = 0.96)

p = n.s.

Vehicle propulsion type

64.9% gasoline, 24.3% diesel, 5.4% EV, 2.7% hybrid, 2.7% gas, 0% other

69.0% gasoline, 24.1% diesel, 0% EV, 3.4% hybrid, 0% gas, 3.4% other

67.9% gasoline, 25.0% diesel, 1.8% EV, 0% hybrid, 0% gas, 5.4% other

p = n.s.

Car dependency

M = 3.24 (SD = 1.78)

M = 3.70 (SD = 1.95)

M = 3.56 (SD = 1.81)

p = n.s.

Driving frequency (before COVID-19)

2.6% never, 57.9% on a yearly or monthly basis, 39.5% on a weekly or daily basis

20.0% never, 16.7% on a yearly or monthly basis, 63.3% on a weekly or daily basis

3.5% never, 40.4% on a yearly or monthly basis, 56.1% on a weekly or daily basis

\(\chi ^{2}(4)\,=\,18.16\), p = 0.001

Annual mileage

7.9% prefer not to say / don’t know, 65.8% up to 10,000 km, 18.4% > 10,000–20,000 km, 7.9% > 20,000 km

23.3% prefer not to say / don’t know, 43.3% up to 10,000 km, 20.0% > 10,000–20,000 km, 13.3% > 20,000 km

5.3% prefer not to say / don’t know, 43.9% up to 10,000 km, 31.6% > 10,000–20,000 km, 19.3% > 20,000 km

\(\chi ^{2}(6)\,=\,13.12\), p = 0.041

Self-assessed knowledge about alternative fuels

M = 2.63 (SD = 1.36)

M = 2.62 (SD = 1.10)

M = 3.23 (SD = 1.18)

F(2,122) = 3.79, p = 0.025, \(\eta _{p}^{2}\,=\,0.06\), Post hoc test (Tukey): difference between groups 2 and 3 almost reaches significance level: (p = 0.055)

Interest in alternative fuels

M = 4.29 (SD = 1.18)

M = 4.30 (SD = 1.02)

M = 4.75 (SD = 1.02)

p = n.s.