Car Use Research Articles

Attitudes and Behaviour towards More Sustainable Travel Options in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: An Emerging Social Change?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is known for its high car ownership and usage and its high GDP per capita. This, combined with a low provision of public transportation (PT) systems, has resulted in perceptual attitudes of high dependency on private car travel. The level of awareness of the benefits of reducing car use and increasing travel by more sustainable options has a great impact on social change and behaviour. The Kingdom is currently progressing towards a new phase of “national reform” through implementation of strategic sustainable programs. Riyadh city is constructing a massive metro-system, which is nearing completion and operation. The public is aware of the national agenda, the construction of transportation projects, and of the social changes needed to realize the new vision of the country. This paper aims to assess travel behaviours and attitudes of Saudi nationals towards public transportation. A discrete choice model of the intent to use public transportation is calibrated as a function of social and attitudinal factors, using online survey data. The analysis was carried out using an ordered logit model (OLR) which is derived from the theory of random utility. The results show that, overall, a higher support for public transportation modes was stated by young females, lower income groups, and university graduates. The level of awareness of the national agenda appears to be increasing the level of support for public transportation. The paper is the first investigation of willingness to use public transportation in Riyadh, at a crucial time of national reform; the choice of mode of travel appears to be determined by the travellers’ social and economic characteristics and the level of awareness of the country’s agenda.

Pathway towards sustainability or motorization? A comparative study of e-bikes in China and the Netherlands

Faced with globally pressing sustainability challenges, the e-bike provides a potentially sustainable mobility alternative. Yet, a growing consensus among researchers is that the environmental and social impacts of e-bikes are context dependent. Previous studies indicate different e-bike pathways in two major e-bike markets. In China, e-bikes seem to be a stepping stone to further motorization. In the Netherlands, e-bike use partially substitutes car use, thereby advancing sustainability. However, little is known about why e-bikes serve different pathways. We address this research problem by employing social practice theory to unpack e-bike practices according to three interdependent elements of materials, competences, and meanings. In doing so, we shed light on the more complex and nuanced dynamics in everyday mobility practices around e-bikes. The findings suggest that in China hostile cycling conditions and positive cultural associations of automobility feed to a vicious circle toward car-based motorization. In the Netherlands, the e-bike provides a viable option for those locked into car practices. Despite these differences, evidence from the two countries indicates that dissatisfactions with elements of car practices may redirect people to e-bike practices. Policy needs to direct toward overcoming structural barriers in domains where individuals have limited agency. Furthermore, this comparative study illustrates that differentiated focus is needed when applying practice theory. Given that the average carbon footprint per capita is lower in the Global South than in the Global North, the focus should be on maintaining existing sustainable practices in the Global South while substituting unsustainable practices in the Global North.

An investigation of green supply chain management practices on organizational performance using multivariate statistical analysis

Global warming and climate change are the main hurdles facing humanity. They are caused by various market practices, such as mining natural resources, fossil fuels used for power generation, dumping hazardous waste, massive electricity generation, and much more. Different ideas, such as the use of hybrid cars, solar power, biogas, etc., have arisen to do business without negatively impacting the environment and Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) is one of them. This paper focuses on the impact of GSCM practices on manufacturing companies’ operational efficiency and overall organizational performance. The study is explanatory and is based on the qualitative model. To analyze the factors influencing organizational performance concerning GSCM, we created questionnaires and utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) for inferential analysis. Our study revealed a mediating role between business performance and GSCM practices. Manufacturing companies need to consider the interaction between internal and external aspects of GSCM to integrate their operations effectively. Additionally, we suggest that examining the relationship between GSCM practices and organizational performance is crucial. This examination addresses the major obstacles in utilizing GSCM practices effectively and proposes a management approach for implementing GSCM in organizations.

Expanding the VBN theory on succeeding the transportation demand management policies

The growth of the car fleet has caused many problems, such as environmental problems, uncontrolled energy consumption, and traffic congestion. To resolve the issues caused by transport-related activities, transportation planners should implement policies that reduce car use and move forward to sustainable transportation. The prerequisite of the efficiency of the policies that reduce car use is the acceptance of them by the entire community members. Previously a few studies have tested individuals’ environmental attitudes using the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory. This research aims to analyze and examine car use reduction policy using a comprehensive VBN and Norm-Activation-model (NAM) theories to consider more variables and provide a model with more analytical capability. To address this issue, 500 questionnaires were filled by travelers’ in Tehran, Iran, in the restricted traffic area to describe their behavior. The result shows that the biospheric value significantly affects car use reduction policy, associated with considerable environmental concerns. Besides, it was found that a high ascription of responsibility (A.R.) appeared as the strongest predictor of the policy. The findings have represented initial support for the VBN theory and revealed that the theory could explain the car use reduction policy’s Intention, according to Tehran’s respondents’ environmental behavior. This study’s findings can assist policymakers in adopting appropriate policies to reduce car use based on environmental advantages and could target biospheric values and ascription of responsibilities.

Does the information provider choose to promote public transport use or protect public health? A case study in China

BackgroundHealth risks from air pollution require cutting motorized private vehicle use. Providing new public travel patterns, along with appropriate smartphone-based multimodal travel information services (SMTIS) is considered an effective way to alleviate this stress. However, air pollution is not likely to be solved overnight. There is a growing demand for more detailed air pollution information accessible through mobile apps to avoid exposure to pollution, which may increase the use of private cars. So far, little is known about this contradictory behavior. MethodsBased on 1926 observations obtained from a stated preference experiment conducted in Shanghai, a mixed logit model was developed to investigate the effect of SMTIS on travelers’ mode choice behavior. Specifically, this study aims to reveal the impact of progressively providing typical multimodal information, social influence information, and air pollution information expressed in cigarette equivalents on commuters’ choice of travel modes, including private car, park-and-ride (P&R), and customized bus. ResultsInformation offered by SMTIS, including travel time, travel cost, available parking spaces, comfort level, and air pollution information, exerts significant influences on travel mode choice. Also, there is observed taste heterogeneity for such information across the population. Respondents placed less emphasis on air pollution information during commute trips than on travel time. Providing information on modal pollution exposure prevents people from using public transport. Even when air quality is good, we still observe an increase in the proportion of people choosing cars. With regard to social influence information, people were more likely to choose P&R when online word-of-mouth about P&R displayed a positive propensity, while the percentage of other travelers who had selected P&R did not exhibit a significant effect. ImplicationsThe findings provide valuable implications for the design of low-carbon traffic management policies and the deployment of multimodal information services.

Environmental racism and air pollution: Pre and post the COVID‐19 economic shutdown

AbstractDecades of research demonstrates that minoritized groups are disproportionately affected by swathes of harmful pollutants, including air pollution, even controlling for low income. Would significantly reducing individual car traffic help reduce the EJ gap? The systemic shock of the COVID‐19 economic shutdown, with accompanied reduction in car use, can be exploited to analyze this question. Kerr and colleagues ask this question for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), use satellite data and categorical differences, and find that majority‐minoritized tracts on average benefited more from the shutdown, but the least‐White tracts still were significantly worse off than the most‐White tracts. We further explore this question for PM2.5, one of the most harmful air pollutants, using Geographic Information System (GIS) methods to combine several different federal datasets to compare pre‐ and post‐COVID‐19 shutdown. Analyzing Census tracts, we find (1) little evidence of discrimination in the placement of PM2.5 sensors, (2) evidence of the standard EJ disproportionality for PM2.5 in both pre‐shutdown 2019 and post‐shutdown 2020, but (3) evidence of disproportionate improvement for Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans, with concerning indications of possible harm to African Americans. This implies, as do the findings in Kerr and colleagues' study, that policies that limit gasoline‐powered car use can reduce air pollution but are unlikely to importantly alleviate US environmental racism affecting African Americans.

The indirect effect of travel mode use on subjective well-being through out-of-home activities

The issue of the effects of travel on subjective well-being (SWB) has recently attracted increasing interest in transport studies. A common finding is that travel affects SWB indirectly through out-of-home activities. However, little is known about how to operationalize this relationship. In this study, we proposed a conceptual model and estimated structural equation models relating travel mode use and activities with multiple SWB dimensions, including affective components (positive affect and negative affect) and cognitive components (belongingness, achievement, and confidence in coping). We used data from a national mobility project in Japan (N = 13,000) to estimate the postulated models. We found that while public transport use enhanced the cognitive components of SWB, it also had a negative effect on the affective components of SWB. Car use affected SWB in a more complex pattern; it promoted SWB by enabling leisure activities but also reduced SWB dimensions of belongingness and achievement through shopping activities. Active travel modes did not have a clear effect on SWB; for example, walking to school was associated with increased belongingness, whereas walking for shopping negatively influenced belongingness. Other contributing factors, such as COVID-19 worry, car access, and the ‘going-out’ problem-solving style, were also found to influence multiple dimensions of SWB. Overall, our study showed how the effects of activities on multiple dimensions of SWB varied with different travel modes, thereby revealing the indirect effect of travel mode use on SWB via activities. Suggestions for shaping transport policies towards SWB are also discussed.

Tribological and mechanical properties investigations on polymer based composites reinforced with bio fillers

Bio-composites are currently considered a viable alternative to conventional, nonbiodegradable polymers. Further increasing, the use of natural fillers helps keep the price of bio-composites down. Polylactic acid (PLA) served as the matrix in this study, and Rice Husk Fibre (RH) and Walnut Shell Fibre (WS) were used as filler materials. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) at 0%, 2%, 4%, 8%, and 10% and Walnut Ash (WNA) at 2% are combined in the PLA matrix. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the impact of varying quantities of a silane-alkali processed rice husk fibre and walnut shell fibre (hybrid fibre) in a PLA-based composite with respect to mechanical, thermal, and tribological properties. Tensile, flexural, impact toughness then Shore D Hardness of approximately 192 MPa, 224 MPa, 6.91 J and 96 were achieved in composites containing alkali-silane-treated rice husk fibre at 10 wt% and walnut shell fibre at 2 wt%, correspondingly. The addition of 2 wt% WS fibre particle reduces the bio-specific composite's specific wear rate (SWR) to around 0.009 mm3/Nm and its coefficient of friction (COF) to about 0.42, respectively. In addition, by including particles made from 6 wt% Rice husk fibre and 2 wt% walnut shell fibre, the composites show promising thermal capabilities, with a Tg of 103◦C. These PLA bio-composites prove the use in aerospace, defence, sports, domestic infrastructure, automobiles, and industrial applications due to their improved mechanical, thermal, and wear characteristics.

“Car, car over all, it has taken a terrible hold of us”: Experiencing automobility in interwar Britain and Germany

This article seeks to tell an emotional history of car use through the genre of life-writing, a source whose use in historical mobility research has recently been advocated by Colin Pooley. It focuses on two diarists, Hugh Miller and Victor Klemperer, to uncover what automobility looked and felt like in interwar Britain and Germany, when modern mass motorisation was emerging. It highlights that experiences of automobility were heterogeneous and dependent on social position, combining the excitement and liberty popularly associated with interwar car use with the banal, frustrating and terrifying. Motorists like Miller and Klemperer felt conflicted about automobility and what it represented. Their inner ambivalence points to a unique emotional engagement with the car, which may help to explain its persistence in twentieth-century society and beyond.

Analisis Konflik antara Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Timur dan Pemerintah Kota Surabaya dalam Penggunaan Mobil PCR di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

The purpose of this thesis is to find out the causes behind the conflict between the East Java Provincial Government and the Surabaya City Government in the use of PCR cars, to determine the form of conflict that occurred between the East Java Provincial Government and the Surabaya City Government in the use of PCR cars, and also to know the conflict resolution taken by the East Java Provincial Government with the Surabaya City Government. This study uses a qualitative research method with a descriptive qualitative approach. The results of this study explain about 1.) The background of the cause of the conflict is the difference in the interests of the Surabaya City Government which wants its territory to immediately accelerate the detection of Covid-19 for the citizens of Surabaya City, while the interests of the East Java Provincial Government are to balance the needs in other areas that need assistance, and there was a miscoordination on the scheduling of this PCR car assistance. 2.) The forms of conflict patterns that occur are included in the type of interpersonal conflict which is a conflict between a group within the same organization, on the other hand the form of this conflict pattern includes latent and manifest conflicts because seen from the triggers of the conflict already visible or open, and has been known to many parties . 3.) Conflict resolution taken by the two parties uses a negotiation method with rescheduling for the purposes of the City of Surabaya

Vehicle ownership rates: The role of lifecycle, period, and cohort effects

Researchers and policymakers often attempt to forecast trends in automobile ownership. But to understand recent changes in demand for cars, researchers must account for behaviors specific to different generations, while simultaneously controlling for the influence of lifecycle and historical effects. To overcome the analytical challenges of cross-sectional data in Age-Period-Cohort (APC) analysis, we apply three different approaches largely used by biostatisticians to isolate how cohort effects influence the likelihood that a U.S. adult lives in a zero-vehicle household.Our analyses draw on data from the U.S. Census Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) from 1970 to 2019. To test for cohort effects, we use constraint-based binary logistic regression, a nonlinear parametric approach to log-linear models, and median polish analysis. We find that people born from 1935 to 1944 experienced the strongest negative cohort effect of all groups, and thus were least likely to live in zero-vehicle households (after accounting for age and period effects). Compared to this cohort, persons born before 1924 and after 1955 saw higher likelihoods of living in zero-vehicle households, all else equal.The peak cohort effect of people born in the 1930s to 1940s may please those interested in reducing automobile use. But because automobiles offer access benefits, more recent cohorts may experience transportation challenges. Negative effects may be especially salient for Millennials, a group faring worse economically than previous generations. Further, recent changes in the transportation landscape – including the growth of services like carshare and ride-hail and behavioral changes emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic – complicate efforts to forecast demand for automobiles.

Multifunctional Graphene–Polymer Nanocomposite Sensors Formed by One-Step In Situ Shear Exfoliation of Graphite

Graphene nanocomposites are a promising class of advanced materials for sensing applications; yet, their commercialization is hindered due to impurity incorporation during fabrication and high costs. The aim of this work is to prepare graphene–polysulfone (G−PSU) and graphene–polyvinylidene fluoride (G−PVDF) nanocomposites that perform as multifunctional sensors and are formed using a one-step, in situ exfoliation process whereby graphite is exfoliated into graphene nanoflakes (GNFs) directly within the polymer. This low-cost method creates a nanocomposite while avoiding impurity exposure since the raw materials used in the in situ shear exfoliation process are graphite and polymers. The morphology, structure, thermal properties, and flexural properties were determined for G−PSU and G−PVDF nanocomposites, as well as the electromechanical sensor capability during cyclic flexural loading, temperature sensor testing while heating and cooling, and electrochemical sensor capability to detect dopamine while sensing data wirelessly. G−PSU and G−PVDF nanocomposites show superior mechanical characteristics (gauge factor around 27 and significantly enhanced modulus), thermal characteristics (stability up to 500 °C and 170 °C for G−PSU and G−PVDF, respectively), electrical characteristics (0.1 S/m and 1 S/m conductivity for G−PSU and G−PVDF, respectively), and distinguished resonant peaks for wireless sensing (~212 MHz and ~429 MHz). These uniquely formed G−PMC nanocomposites are promising candidates as strain sensors for structural health monitoring, as temperature sensors for use in automobiles and aerospace applications, and as electrochemical sensors for health care and disease diagnostics.

Sentiment Analysis of Towards Electric Cars using Naive Bayes Classifier and Support Vector Machine Algorithm

The use of non-renewable energy sources causes a reduction in fossil fuel resources, and greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the 2020 Climate Transparency Report, G20 member countries are trying to minimize gas emissions according to the target of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), that the transportation sector contributes 27% of air pollution. The solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to start using electric cars. The change from conventional transportation to electric transportation is expected to reduce carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. However, the transition from conventional transportation to electric transportation raises pros and cons for the people of Indonesia. Social media Twitter is a forum for sharing opinions. Twitter users can express opinions on a matter. This study uses the sentiment analysis method to determine public opinion on the use of electric cars in Indonesia. Sentiment classification was performed using the NBC and SVM Algorithms. The results of this study indicate the use of two different algorithms, namely the Naive Bayes Classifier and SVM with the highest accuracy in Naive Bayes with k = 2 and k = 9 is 88%, while the highest accuracy in SVM with k = 9 and k = 10 is 90%. Thus, SVM has better capabilities than Naive Bayes in this study.

Integrating built environment and parking policy for car commuting reduction: evidence from Beijing

ABSTRACT Built environment (BE) planning and parking policy are two major strategies for restricting car use. However, researchers usually explore the independent associations of BE and parking policy with the use of the car in commuting, and most earlier studies are limited to investigating the benefits of integrating them. This study adopts a machine learning approach to explore the associations of home and workplace BE features and parking policy with the use of the car in commuting and whether the associations of BE features are moderated by parking policy. Results suggest that workplace BE features have larger collective contributions to the use of the car in commuting than home BE features. All BE features have nonlinear associations with the use of the car in commuting, and the nonlinear patterns differ across home and workplace neighborhoods. Moreover, free parking and parking convenience have significant moderating effects on the connection between BE and the use of the car in commuting. Thus, planning practitioners and policy makers should highlight the importance of coordinating BE planning and policy making to restrict the use of the car in commuting.

Analysis on the catalytic performance of catalysts and cost-effectiveness and selectivity of methanol carbonylation

Methanol is an essential raw chemical that is also a source of environmentally friendly energy for use in automobiles and other uses. It is one of the most important organic raw materials that is used in the manufacturing of a wide variety of organic compounds, such as chloromethane, methylamine, and dimethyl sulfate, among many others. It is one of the raw materials used in the production of dimethyl terephthalate, methyl methacrylate, and methyl acrylate, in addition to being a raw material for pesticides (insecticides, acaricides), pharmaceuticals (sulphonamides, co-trimoxazole, etc.), and other chemicals (such as sulfonamides and co-trimoxazole, for example). This paper investigates the catalytic performance of various catalysts for methanol carbonylation through a method of literature review. The purpose of the study is to determine which catalyst offers the most value for the price. In addition to that, the research investigates the efficiency in terms of cost and the selectivity of the methanol carbonylation process.

Preparation and Characterization of Low CTE Poly(ethersulfone) Using Lignin Nano Composites as Flexible Substrates.

Polyethersulfone (PES) has outstanding thermal and dimensional stability. It is considered an engineering thermoplastic. However, its high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) hinders its use in automobiles, microelectronics, and flexible display areas. To overcome its high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), recent studies have focused on reducing its high CTE and improving its mechanical properties by adding nano-sized fillers or materials. The addition of nanofiller or nanofibrils to the PES matrix often has a positive effect on its mechanical and thermal properties, making it a flexible display substrate. To obtain ideal flexible substrates, we prepared polyethersulfone with lignin nanocomposite films to reduce CTE and improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PES by varying the relative ratio of PES in the lignin nanocomposite. In this study, lignin as a biodegradable nanofiller was found to show high thermal, oxidative, and hydrolytic stability with favorable mechanical properties. PES/lignin nanocomposite films were prepared by solution casting according to the content of lignin (0 to 5 wt.%). PES/lignin composite films were subjected to mechanical, thermo-mechanical, optical, and surface analyses. The results showed enhanced thermomechanical and optical properties of PES, with the potential benefits of lignin filler materials realized for the development of thermoplastic polymer blends.

An assessment of new materials that are light weight for use in automobiles to improve fuel efficiency

Global energy demand is currently contributing to a severe problem of rising fuel prices for automobile users. One solution is to reduce the weight of the car body to improve fuel efficiency and reduce fuel costs. The choice of car body material can achieve this purpose. This paper will present the criteria such as stiffness, strength, and density to determine the suitability of substituting traditional materials, such as mild steel and carbon steel, with new materials High Strength Steel (HSS), aluminum alloys, and Long Fiber Thermoplastic (LFT). A literature review of the research is done to showcase the challenges traditional materials experience and how the development of these three new materials can overcome these challenges. Results from the case study show the feasibility of implementing these new materials in an automobile. More future research should be conducted to overcome the challenges and limitations posed by using these new materials, focusing on the low-cost replacement, manufacturing, and co-joining techniques of car body parts.

The Impact of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games on Air Quality in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region: A Quasi-Natural Experiment Study

Major sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, can harm air quality due to the construction of large stadiums and other sporting facilities, the transportation of athletes and spectators, and the consumption of energy and resources. To successfully host the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chinese government has taken measures to improve air quality in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, such as limiting car use, closing polluting businesses, and increasing clean energy. Whether these measures have effectively improved the air quality in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and whether they have had a sustained impact are the concerns of this study. In this study, based on air quality statistics for 24 Chinese cities from 2014–2022, including 2592 observations, we investigated the impact of the Beijing Winter Olympics on the air quality in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region using the difference-in-difference (DID) method. Our empirical findings indicate that the Beijing Winter Olympics significantly impacted the air quality in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. We observed a 25% reduction in the air quality index (AQI) and a 28% reduction in the levels of PM2.5, holding all other factors constant. Trend analysis further suggests that the Beijing Winter Olympics contributed to the region’s long-term trend of air quality improvement. We performed a series of robustness tests, all indicating the reliability of our basic conclusions. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis shows a significant effect of the pollution level and the distance from the capital on the effectiveness of air quality improvement, while economic development had no significant impact. Our findings have important implications for policymakers and other stakeholders interested in improving air quality. The significant improvements from the Beijing Winter Olympics suggest that implementing similar initiatives in other regions may also have positive effects.

Why the Car Is Not Always King in Global South Cities: Evidence From Ulaanbaatar

Access to a private car has established itself as a critical control on mobility and access to opportunities for residents living in a diverse range of settings, globally. Across cities of the Global South, the benefits of private car access are often intensified by the absence of viable alternative modes of travel. This article explores the influence of private car access and mobility in relation to residents living in “ger district” areas of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. These peri-urban areas are informally created when rural migrants set up home on the edge of the city, initially using mobile felt dwellings called “ger” that become augmented or replaced by permanent structures over time. An absence of forward planning as well as unmade roads and hilly topography mean that the ger districts are often poorly served by public transport, while the low density of the built environment also means that informal transport services can be limited in coverage and relatively expensive. This article utilises a database of household questionnaires collected in 2020 to compare mobility patterns and accessibility between car-owning and non-car-owning households in three case study ger districts, capturing seasonal differences between the extreme cold of the wintertime and warmer summer conditions. The findings not only reveal stark mobility and access differences in relation to car ownership but also discrepancies between car ownership and actual car use for important and routine journeys. This indicates that despite a lack of public transport available, many households opt to use what public transport they can. This pattern provides a potentially important basis for future policies that aim to limit car use in order to reduce traffic congestion and broaden access to the city for non-car-owning households by providing more accessible public transport.

Understanding Public Acceptance of Automobile Restriction Policies: A Qualitative Study in Four Latin American Cities

In recent decades, several Latin American cities have implemented policy instruments to reduce urban air pollution and traffic congestion such as license plate–based restrictions on car use. Our research analyzes the factors influencing the public acceptance of these urban policies in four cities: Bogotá, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, and Quito. We use semi-structured interviews and digital diaries to examine participants’ beliefs and emotions about vehicle restrictions as well as their daily mobility experiences. The study illustrates the importance of three main beliefs in shaping the public acceptance of the measures (perceived effectiveness, perceived fairness, and perceived personal impacts). The results also show a certain resignation on the part of the participants, accepting that the policies are necessary and, to some extent, effective in pacifying traffic and improving air quality in highly populated cities, even if the policies generate certain undesirable distributional and personal impacts. The study uncovers the importance of the local context in understanding why certain urban policies, successfully applied in other contexts, might have lower levels of public support in Latin American cities. A high population density, regulatory shortcomings, enforcement difficulties, and deficits in infrastructure and public transport all create a mobility context in which some policies to improve urban air quality and traffic congestion generate high levels of frustration and ambivalence among the residents.