Abstract:We investigate the potential use of small, electric vehicles to substitute for a portion of household travel demands, with the goal of reducing car size and emissions for many trips, thus reducing parking needs, road sizes, and air and noise pollution. We investigate with households whether new types of small, cleaner vehicles are convenient, practical, and attractive given their current travel patterns and future lifestyle goals, and explore what household lifestyles and public policies make it sensible to invest in such a specialized vehicles. In particular, we work with households to discover a likely sphere of their activities around homes and transit stations which fits the capabilities of small electric vehicles.

Note:Published in Perpetual Motion: Travel Behavior Research Opportunities and Application Challenges, ed. H.S. Mahmassani, Elsevier Science Ltd., chapter 3.