Alternative Fuel Adoption Behavior of Heavy-duty Vehicle Fleets in California: Insights Gained from In-depth Fleet Operator Interviews
Abstract
Alternative fuel adoption by heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) fleets can bring substantial benefits to both current local communities and future generations by reducing air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the penetration rate of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) is still very low in the HDV sector. Revealing HDV fleet operator perspectives towards alternative fuels can serve as the basis for developing effective policies for accelerating the diffusion of these technologies. Nevertheless, fleet operator perspectives have thus far received limited attention, leaving a key knowledge gap. To fill this gap, this study aims to build a theory of alternative fuel adoption behavior in HDV fleets using both existing literature and new empirical data.
To this end, we first develop an initial theoretical framework of AFV fleet adoption behavior in organizations based upon existing theories and literature. We then empirically improve the framework by investigating 20 organizations in California via in-depth qualitative interviews and project reports. Consequently, a total of 29 adoption and 42 non-adoption cases were probed across various alternative fuel technologies, including natural gas, propane, electricity, hydrogen, biodiesel, and renewable diesel options. Content and thematic analyses of the qualitative data yielded numerous themes and hypotheses across a broad range of subjects related to alternative fuel adoption behavior of HDV fleets, including 1) Decision-making processes, 2) Factors affecting adoption and non-adoption decisions, 3) Vehicle driver acceptance of AFVs within an organization, 4) Satisfaction on vehicles and refueling facilities, 5) Repurchase plans and recommendation experiences to other fleets, 6) Opinions on financial incentives, and 7) Perspectives on viable alternative fuel options in 2030s. Of a total of 53 qualitative insights identified, 12 main insights will be presented at the conference. The study results contribute theoretically and empirically to a better understanding of the demand-side aspects of AFV adoption by HDV fleet operators, and help elicit demand-side policy measures to foster the transition towards the decarbonized HDV sector, particularly in California and in the other US states that follow California’s environmental policies.
Alternative Fuel Adoption Behavior of Heavy-duty Vehicle Fleets in California: Insights Gained from In-depth Fleet Operator Interviews
Category
Freight and Goods Movement
Description
Presenter: Youngeun Bae
Agency Affiliation: University of California, Irvine
Session: Technical Session B3: Alternative Fuels and Electrification - Addressing Fleet and Adoption Issues
Date: 6/1/2022, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Presenter Biographical Statement: Dr. Youngeun Bae is an assistant project scientist at Institute of Transportation Studies at University of California, Irvine. Her research interests lie in enhancing sustainability in the transportation sector in terms of environmental and equity aspects, with improved planning and implementation of emerging technologies, including low carbon technologies, connected and autonomous vehicles, and shared mobility options. Dr. Bae’s recent and ongoing work focuses specifically on advancing the understanding of alternative fuel adoption behavior in heavy-duty vehicle fleets, by building a theory of the adoption behavior, developing a quantitative model allowing demand analysis of heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles under different policy and technology advancement scenarios, and designing a fleet transition model. She holds a PhD degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Irvine, and MS and BS degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Civil, Urban and Geosystems Engineering, respectively, from Seoul National University.