Industry 5.0 meets Sustainability: Demographic drivers of battery electric vehicle adoption in Chinese Guangdong Province in transition to cleaner energy transportation

China is leading the world in Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) adoption, making it a key player in the global transition to clean energy transportation. Keeping up with the ever-changing BEV industry is a high-stakes challenge, particularly as demographic factors influence consumer behavior and adoption patterns. This study investigates how demographic elements, such as education, income, age, and gender, are associated with environmental awareness, BEV awareness, and purchase intention in Guangdong Province, a national leader in BEV infrastructure and adoption. Based on 300 survey responses, our finding reveals that charging infrastructure (42 %) and battery technology (40 %) are key technological priorities among consumers. Education and income are positively related to both BEV awareness and purchase intention, while younger consumers show a stronger intent to adopt BEVs than older groups. Gender differences also emerge, with men reporting higher purchase intention. Environmental awareness shows a positive association with both BEV awareness and intention, suggesting a link between sustainability values and mobility choices. This study fills a significant gap in the literature by incorporating socio-economic diversity into BEV adoption. Framed within the Industry 5.0 paradigm, our findings offer new insights into how human-centric, inclusive transitions may be facilitated through demographically informed policy and market strategies.