

@mastersthesis {6304,
	title = {Public acceptability of the preferences for hydrogen buses and refuelling infrastructure},
	year = {2005},
	note = {U205383},
	school = {University of London, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (United Kingdom)},
	type = {phdPh.{D}.},
	address = {Ann Arbor},
	abstract = {This thesis addresses questions of public acceptability and preferences with regards to the first stages in the diffusion of hydrogen-based transport in London. Initial diffusion consists of: 1) the demonstration of three hydrogen fuel cell buses on various routes around central London (from January 2004), and 2) the development of a hydrogen refuelling station for these buses, within the London area (currently underway). Two separate surveys were carried out, to investigate: 1) public acceptability of and willingness to pay for hydrogen fuel cell buses prior to their introduction, and 2) public acceptability of the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, and demand for more information, and, in the case of respondents who are opposed to local hydrogen storage, 3) willingness to pay to support protest efforts against H2 refuelling facilities in their local area. Economic values were estimated using three benefit estimation methods: the contingent valuation method, choice experiments and the contingent behaviour technique. Contingent valuation and choice experiments are often used to value environmental amenities, such as clean air or water, whereas contingent behaviour has rarely been used in environmental economics; hence its use in this thesis is intended to be largely exploratory. Overall, results from the hydrogen fuel cells buses survey indicate a significant lack of public awareness about hydrogen vehicles and fuel cells. Upon providing survey respondents with information about hydrogen, support levels for hydrogen vehicles increase significantly and willingness to pay for the air and noise pollution reductions associated with the introduction of hydrogen buses in London is found to be positive in every case. Analysis of the willingness to pay data using standard ordinary least squares regression indicates that independent variables have a generally weak influence on stated values. However, quantile regression analysis reveals that variables that were not significant in the OLS regression become significant at certain quantiles, particularly at the tails of the distribution of willingness to pay (for all three payment vehicles).},
	keywords = {0501:Economics, Bibliographies, DXN093809, economics, Psychology{\textendash}Abstracting, Social sciences, Statistics},
	url = {http://search.proquest.com/docview/301712631?accountid=14270},
	author = {O{\textquoteright}Garra, T}
}
