Overview Results Overview
 

 

The project addresses a number of gaps in the current literature on perceptions and values of new transport technologies.

  • It brings together two strands of research: i) investigation of public perceptions to determine broad acceptability and ii) measurement of economic values (measured by willingness to pay) and related demand for hydrogen buses to assess economic viability. Carrying out both types of assessment simultaneously will permit an analysis of how perceptions of hydrogen buses influence their perceived economic value and the public demand for them.
  • Although, a number of studies have examined the economic value of adopting more environmentally friendly technologies and fuels comparatively little academic work has been directed at valuing the environmental benefits of cleaner transport technologies, such as reduced air quality impacts and noise levels. Broadly, existing research seems to indicate that environmental considerations play a very limited role in the choice of cleaner transport technologies. Not surprisingly, financial considerations and vehicle performance seem to be paramount. However, none of the existing economic valuation work has focused on emissions-free hydrogen vehicles specifically. Most research assessing the potential for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the transport market has only looked at the strict technical and financial feasibility of the technology and not at its wider economic impacts. Furthermore, research has typically analysed preferences for private car ownership. This project complements and extends previous economic valuation work by focusing on hydrogen fuel cell buses and their environmental benefits for the public.
  • The current project is believed to be unique in that it will carry out two identical surveys in each city, one before and one after major HB demonstration projects have been run, in order to assess the level of influence that each project has on public perceptions and economic preferences. The project then extends the analysis a stage further by comparing the level of influence that each of the five demonstration projects has, in order to identify the critical factors that lead to success in introducing the technology. These will be developed into recommendations for how to maximise the positive influence of future demonstration projects. Hence, the results of the study are expected to be valuable for the design and operation of future hydrogen vehicle demonstration projects, and also in the introduction of hydrogen vehicles in mainstream operation.
  • The use of different cities and geographies will enable an understanding of locally-specific factors that influence the different demonstrations to be developed. Factors influencing these different geographies and cultures will be identified and highlighted for use in future project development.

 

 

 

 
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