Will people accept shared autonomous electric vehicles? A survey before and after receipt of the costs and benefits

Abstract

Through a survey of residents of Queensland’s (Australia) capital Brisbane, living within 20 km of its central business district (CBD), this study measures their willingness to trade-off ownership of conventional internal combustion engine cars (ICVs) for the impending advent of new forms of automotive transport. These forms embrace electric powertrains, on demand ride sharing and an autonomous (driverless) mode of operation.The choice experiment’s outcome highlighted the willingness of participants to change their transportation habits. Only 16% adopted the neither (status quo option of retaining their privately owned car with 40% choosing the 80%/20% shared electric autonomous vehicles (SEAVs)/conventional option and 44% the 50%/20% option. Cost was revealed as the most important driver of choice although congestion induced extra travel time and number of serious accidents were also highly significant. Only increased urban space was not significant. Following viewing a video on the advantages of SEAVs only 11% of recipients chose the status quo option. Wealthier participants, commuters and married couples were now more likely to adopt SEAVs. But those with children and those who loved driving became less likely to do so. Younger people and those who lived closer to the CBD were shown to be less likely to reject SEAVs.