Riders’ perceptions towards transit bus electrification: Evidence from Salt Lake City, Utah

Abstract:

While battery electric buses (BEBs) can lead to energy savings and reduced emissions, BEB adoption is developing slowly. Although BEBs offer quieter operations, better acceleration, and no smell of diesel or gas fumes, little focus has been placed on the user’s perspective. This study investigates bus riders’ preferences toward BEBs. To achieve these objectives, a survey was designed and administered to solicit riders’ typical travel behaviors and patterns as well as preferences and opinions about BEBs’ performance in terms of emissions and noise. Statistical analysis showed that several factors influence rider perceptions towards transit bus electrification that include trip purpose, attitudes towards environmental issues and environmental impacts of BEBs, and certain non-instrumental ride factors such as ride comfort and social image. A better understanding of the importance of electrification to transit riders can help transit service providers adjust their marketing decisions and their systemwide operations to accommodate preferences towards BEBs.

See publication:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2023.103642
This publication pertains to:
Systems of Systems
Publication Authors:
  • Konstantinos Flaris
  • Konstantina Gkritza
  • Patrick Singleton
  • Antje Graul
  • Ziqi Song
It appeared in:
Peer-reviewed technical journal
Shout-outs/Achievements:
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Keywords:
Electric buses User perceptions Ride comfort Multivariate probit model Bivariate probit model Transit electrification