A Survey on Factors Affecting Irans Fuel Rationing Smart Card User Acceptance and Security

Smart card technology has resulted in vast developments in many aspects of modern human life. User acceptance of fuel rationing smart cards based on adoption model involves many factors such as: satisfaction, security, external variables, attitude toward using, etc. In this study, user acceptance and security factors for fuel rationing smart cards in Iran have been evaluated based on an adoption model by distributing a questionnaire among UTM (University Technology Malaysia) Iranian students, MMU (Multimedia University) Iranian students, either asking by e-mail from people who are not available.

💡 Research Summary

**
The paper investigates user acceptance and security perceptions of Iran’s fuel‑rationing smart‑card system, a technology introduced in 2007 to curb fuel subsidies, limit smuggling, and manage vehicle‑specific fuel quotas. The authors adopt an integrated adoption model that synthesizes constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT), Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), TAM2, and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). The model includes variables such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, security (with sub‑factors authentication, confidentiality, non‑repudiation, data integrity), external variables (trialability, image, social influence, compatibility, visibility), satisfaction, awareness, anxiety, support, and attitude toward use.

Data were collected via a 73‑item questionnaire administered to 41 Iranian students enrolled at University Technology Malaysia (UTM) and Multimedia University (MMU) and to 9 Iranian employees from ASHNA and N.I.O.P.D.C, yielding a total sample of 50 respondents. The first seven items captured demographic information (gender, age, education, user category, experience), while the remaining 66 items measured the aforementioned constructs on a five‑point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). The sample was 36 % male, 64 % female; 88 % were under 35 years old; 86 % held at least a bachelor’s degree; all participants had used the fuel‑rationing smart card, with 68 % using it at least weekly.

Descriptive statistics and one‑way ANOVA were employed to assess mean scores and significance levels. Security emerged as the most important factor (mean = 4.33, p < 0.001), with authentication identified as the most critical sub‑factor (mean = 4.58). Perceived usefulness, ease of use, support, awareness, and anxiety also received relatively high mean scores (≈ 4.06–4.11) but were less decisive than security. External variables and satisfaction, despite being statistically significant, showed lower mean values (≈ 4.00) and were interpreted as less influential in this context.

Demographic analysis revealed nuanced patterns: respondents aged 31‑35, females, and those with PhD degrees rated security highest, whereas participants over 35, males, and PhD holders placed greater emphasis on overall user acceptance. These findings suggest that age, gender, and education modulate the relative importance of security versus acceptance constructs.

The authors discuss the dominance of security concerns, especially authentication, as a prerequisite for trust in a government‑mandated smart‑card system. They note that the lack of significance for external variables and satisfaction may stem from the homogenous, student‑biased sample and the limited scope of the questionnaire. Limitations include the small sample size, over‑representation of university students, and reliance on self‑reported attitudes rather than behavioral data.

In conclusion, the study recommends that policymakers and system designers prioritize robust authentication mechanisms and user‑centric security features to enhance adoption. Future research should expand the sample to include a broader cross‑section of the Iranian population, conduct longitudinal studies to capture attitude shifts over time, and evaluate the impact of the second phase of fuel‑subsidy reduction currently being implemented. By doing so, the findings can better inform the design of secure, acceptable smart‑card solutions for national fuel distribution and potentially other public‑service applications.