Behavioral Response to Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles and Refueling: A Comparative Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Exposure

Elliot Martin, Susan Shaheen, Timothy Lipman and Jeffery Lidicker

Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series from Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis

Abstract: Over the last several decades, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have recently emerged as a zero tailpipe-emission alternative to the battery electric vehicle (EV). FCVs have some important differences from gasoline internal combustion engine vehicles, and they have only been on the road for a few years. There are key questions about consumer reaction and response to operations and refueling. This paper presents the results of a "ride-and-drive" clinic series (n=182) held in 2007 with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class "F-Cell" hydrogen FCV. The clinic evaluated participant reactions to driving and riding in a FCV, as well as witnessing a vehicle-refueling event. Roughly 95% of respondents finished the clinic with either a positive or very positive impression of the F-Cell. More than 80% left with a positive overall impression of hydrogen. The majority expressed a willingness to travel five to ten minutes to find a hydrogen station. Approximately 50% would consider a 225 to 300 mile (360 to 480 kilometers) FCV range acceptable. Fifty percent would pay no more than a $3,000 US premium over a similar gasoline vehicle. In addition, clinic results are compared with the authors' previous study employing 24 F-Cells, which tracked respondents over a seven-month period. This comparative analysis helps to better discern which short-term effects may be influenced by the "novelty" effect and which are likely to persist due to new information.

Keywords: UCD-ITS-RR-08-36; Engineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-01-01
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/8nv3g1k3.pdf;origin=repeccitec (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt8nv3g1k3

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series from Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Lisa Schiff ().