Private household demand for vehicles on alternative fuels and drive trains: a review

Any attempt of the government to encourage the purchase of vehicles on alternative fuels and drive trains will depend on the acceptance of the end-users on the demand side. This paper offers an in-depth understanding of the consumers’ attitudes and preferences towards AFVs (alternative fuel vehicles) which can guide the government to establish effective policy measures. A comprehensive review of research is performed under different conceptual frameworks and research methodologies: attitudinal, experimental, preference valuation studies and others. Research findings are reported with the general objective to (1) uncover the attitudes and preferences towards AFVs and (2) examine whether the environmental benefits of AFVs play a role in the car purchase decision. Overall, there exists a strong environmental concern, and positive attitudes towards AFVs. However, environmental benefits are of little importance in the car purchase decision, which is principally driven by price characteristics, performance, and convenience attributes. Limited knowledge levels also seem to prevent building up awareness of AFVs, which is the key to their adoption. The adoption of AFVs is likely to be limited without significant governmental incentives and regulations. Based on the key findings, it can be recommended that a combination of educational campaigns (e.g., information tools), pricing measures (e.g., differentiated vehicle taxation), supply-sided measures and large-scale demonstrations is required to support the adoption of AFVs.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12544-013-0095-z
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/18668887
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2013 Laurence Turcksin et al.
• Authors:
  • Turcksin, Laurence
  • Mairesse, Olivier
  • Macharis, Cathy
• Publication Date: 2013-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 149-164
• Serial:
  • European Transport Research Review
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Springer Publishing
  • ISSN: 1866-8887
  • EISSN: 1867-0717
  • Serial URL: http://link.springer.com/journal/12544
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Consumer preferences; Demand; Environment; Governments; Households; Policy; Power trains
• Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01492909
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 16 2013 9:08AM