Working Towards a Future on Alternative Fuels: the Role of the Automotive Industry

Student Dissertation or Thesis
Working Towards a Future on Alternative Fuels: the Role of the Automotive Industry
Chen, C. (2012)
Master of Science Thesis, Technology and Policy Program, MIT

Abstract/Summary:

Complementarity of vehicles and fuels has posed signicant barrier for increasing the use of alternative fuels in place of traditional ones. An initial positive number of either alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) users or alternative fueling stations are needed for the diusion of both. This research examines the incentive of the automotive industry, in particular automobile companies focusing on AFVs, to create a positive number of AFV users by demand-side promotion which increases environmental awareness of consumers, and a positive number of alternative fueling stations by supply-side pro- motion including funding part of the upfront or operating costs of alternative fueling stations. I rst build a static microeconomic model of the vehicle and fuel market and nd that the demand-side promotion is helpful in creating a positive number of AFVs and alternative fueling stations under a wider range of situations than is supply-side promotion. AFV companies are found to have incentive to do these promotions given aordable promotion costs. Furthermore, using data on vehicle purchase and char- acteristics of U.S. consumer units from 2005 to 2010 merged with information on state-level fuel prices, fueling stations, and designation of clean cities, I nd that the addition of 1 clean city or 100 refueling stations of E85, an alternative fuel used in ex-fuel vehicles, is equivalent to a reduction of $0.04 or $0.19 in the E85 price on the eect of increasing ex-fuel vehicle choice probability respectively. Both the theoreti- cal and empirical results suggest that AFV companies evaluate business opportunities in supply- and demand-side promotions, and that policy makers consider potential contributions of the market to bringing about a future on alternative fuels.

Citation:

Chen, C. (2012): Working Towards a Future on Alternative Fuels: the Role of the Automotive Industry. Master of Science Thesis, Technology and Policy Program, MIT (http://globalchange.mit.edu/publication/16102)
  • Student Dissertation or Thesis
Working Towards a Future on Alternative Fuels: the Role of the Automotive Industry

Chen, C.

Technology and Policy Program, MIT
2016

Abstract/Summary: 

Complementarity of vehicles and fuels has posed signicant barrier for increasing the use of alternative fuels in place of traditional ones. An initial positive number of either alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) users or alternative fueling stations are needed for the diusion of both. This research examines the incentive of the automotive industry, in particular automobile companies focusing on AFVs, to create a positive number of AFV users by demand-side promotion which increases environmental awareness of consumers, and a positive number of alternative fueling stations by supply-side pro- motion including funding part of the upfront or operating costs of alternative fueling stations. I rst build a static microeconomic model of the vehicle and fuel market and nd that the demand-side promotion is helpful in creating a positive number of AFVs and alternative fueling stations under a wider range of situations than is supply-side promotion. AFV companies are found to have incentive to do these promotions given aordable promotion costs. Furthermore, using data on vehicle purchase and char- acteristics of U.S. consumer units from 2005 to 2010 merged with information on state-level fuel prices, fueling stations, and designation of clean cities, I nd that the addition of 1 clean city or 100 refueling stations of E85, an alternative fuel used in ex-fuel vehicles, is equivalent to a reduction of $0.04 or $0.19 in the E85 price on the eect of increasing ex-fuel vehicle choice probability respectively. Both the theoreti- cal and empirical results suggest that AFV companies evaluate business opportunities in supply- and demand-side promotions, and that policy makers consider potential contributions of the market to bringing about a future on alternative fuels.