Moving towards more efficient car use – what can be learnt about consumer acceptance from analysing the cases of LPG and CNG?

Panel: 8. Dynamics of consumption

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Elisabeth Duetschke, Fraunhofer ISI, Germany
Uta Schneider, Fraunhofer ISI (same as main author), Germany
Anja Peters, Fraunhofer ISI (same as main author), Germany
Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Chair of Energy Economics, Germany
Patrick Jochem, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany

Abstract

Electric mobility is currently often discussed as a means to achieve a more energy efficient and climate-friendly way of individual mobility. Up to now, few electric vehicles are on the streets. Hence, insights on consumer perceptions and acceptance are still limited. Vehicles running with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) have been on the market for years and show some comparable characteristics to electric vehicles. Conse-quently, consumer perceptions on LPG-/CNG-vehicles might allow for drawing conclusions with regard to electric mobility.

In a first step, insights on the relevant factors for consumer acceptance of LPG and CNG have been gained by an extensive literature review. Secondly, the findings are enhanced and broad-ened by twelve in-depth interviews with actual users in Germany. The interviews showed that actual users have come into contact with the technology in various ways and have then started to collect more information mainly through the internet and – preferably – by talking to other users before deciding to switch to alternative fuels. The interview partners reported that they have had concerns regarding infrastructure, reliability of the technology and – repeatedly – a possible explosion of the vehicle. However (and fortunately), none of these concerns turned out to be relevant in reality and all interview-partners reported high levels of satisfaction with their LPG-/CNG-vehicle. Economic advantages played a crucial role in the decision making process, however environmental issues were also very important. Currently, a survey is prepared to test the results quantitatively.

Applied to the context of electric vehicles, these analyses point out that experience communicated by other users seems an important factor to increase perceived reliability and safety of a technology. Furthermore, perceptions before and after actual use of the technology may significantly influence the perception of a technology.