Jonn Axsen

Jonn Axsen
Simon Fraser University · School of Resource and Environmental Management

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93
Publications
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5,610
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Publications

Publications (93)
Article
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Today’s societies are characterized by a reliance on privately-owned vehicles, or “automobility”. In this context, electric vehicles (EVs) are essential to achieve global climate targets, but few studies investigate the relationship between EVs and incumbent automobility. This study examines if automobility shapes consumer preferences for EVs by an...
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In this review paper, we delve into the supply-side challenges and considerations for transitioning to 100% zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), weaving together an analysis of batteries, vehicle production, charging infrastructure, and relevant supply-side policies. We begin by examining the innovations and environmental impacts of lithium mining and re...
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Most net-zero emissions targets require electrification of the entire light-duty vehicle fleet, and before that the electrification of all new vehicle sales. In this paper, we review literature on demand-side issues related to achieving 100% zero-emissions vehicle sales, focusing on plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). We discuss potential demand-side...
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Fully automated vehicles (FAVs) could transform private car-based mobility or "automobility", but the direction of FAV impacts is uncertain and contingent on consumers. We investigate consumer response to FAVs and its relationship to automobility by conducting semi-structured interviews with 34 new car buyers in British Columbia, Canada. First, we...
Article
Les normes d’émissions des véhicules (NEV) font régulièrement l’objet de modifications et de mises à jour dans divers pays, y compris les États-Unis et le Canada. Pour éclairer la conception d’une politique sur les NEV, nous simulons les effets additifs de différents resserrements des NEV sur les émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES), les ventes...
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The “automobility system” encompasses the prevalence of the privately-owned car in industrialized societies. We apply automobility theory in a novel approach, by investigating consumer engagement with aspects of the automobility system related to car ownership and use in the case studies of Canada and Germany, while also considering openness to new...
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Many stakeholders want to predict how consumers will respond to novel technologies and behaviors that enable transitions to low-carbon forms of mobility, energy, and related lifestyle practices. Consumer research is inherently difficult where people lack familiarity and experience. However, much research explicitly or implicitly assumes consumers a...
Article
To comply with deep decarbonization targets, many governments are committing to the goal of reaching 100% zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) sales for their light-duty vehicle sector by 2035. This study compares policy pathways to meet this goal in the case of Canada: a ZEV sales mandate, a vehicle emissions standard (VES), a feebate system, and several...
Article
The growing share of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in the passenger market is challenging various sustainability and decarbonization goals. In our case study of Canada, SUVs and pickup trucks made up 80% of new vehicle sales in recent years. In this paper, we explore what motivates consumer interest in purchasing SUVs, and their “willingness-to-dow...
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Automobility theory investigates the prevalence of the privately-owned car, including technology, infrastructure, and cultural elements. In an application of this theory, we quantitatively explore consumer engagement with aspects of automobility related to car ownership and use. We identify seven potential constructs of “automobility engagement” th...
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Peer review is the bedrock of modern academic research and its lasting contributions to science and society. And yet, reviewers can submit “poor” peer review reports, authors can blatantly ignore referee advice, and editors can contravene and undermine the peer review process itself. In this paper, we, the Editors of Energy Research & Social Scienc...
Article
So-called “new mobility” innovations could transform transportation systems, including the deployment of shared, electric, and automated vehicles. However, researchers are still learning about who is currently using these technologies (“realized demand”) and who is interested in future usage (“latent demand”). We explore these patterns via a repres...
Article
In the real-world of political opposition and complex market failures, carbon pricing alone will not achieve deep GHG mitigation targets. Hence, we search for the most cost-effective “second-best” policies. Focusing on the light-duty vehicle sector in the case of Canada, we compare several policies in terms of effectiveness (regarding 2030 GHG goal...
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Many researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders view zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) as playing an important role in deep decarbonization of the transport sector. Here, we bring attention to one policy that can effectively induce ZEV sales in the long term: a ZEV sales mandate. Although three decades have passed since the first mandate was implemen...
Article
It is highly uncertain which zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) drivetrains are most suitable for heavy-duty trucks and there is little exploration of how these technologies might compete in the long-term. We used a dynamic model representing technology, cost, and behavioral parameters to simulate adoption of various drivetrains, including battery electr...
Article
Although numerous studies investigate the impacts of policy on zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) sales, few address the impacts of a ZEV sales mandate and its particular design features. We use the AUtomaker-consumer Model (AUM) to simulate varying designs of a ZEV mandate in Canada's light-duty vehicle sector, requiring 30% ZEV sales by 2030. Design fe...
Article
Public acceptance is one important aspect of broader social acceptability of renewable energy. Using a national, representative survey dataset of Canadian citizens (n = 1407), we examine public support for three infrastructure-scale renewables: large hydropower, wind farms, and solar farms. Few studies compare acceptance of multiple technologies or...
Article
We explore the potential role of road pricing in achieving deep GHG mitigation targets, including cordon zones, fuel taxes, VKT fees, and ZEV zones. While most research focuses on a single policy criterion, our comprehensive framework seeks to synthesize insights on five criteria: effectiveness (GHG mitigation), efficiency, equity, political accept...
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Citizen support is considered important for successful climate policy to be implemented. We examine how support varies by policy type and citizen characteristics, focusing on nine climate policies relating to transport, including carbon taxes, financial and non-financial incentives for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), and regulations (for fuels, vehi...
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Household energy consumption is a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions associated with global climate change. Thus, identifying social and psychological determinants of household-level consumption warrants further study. Using nationally representative samples from Canada (N = 1220) and the USA (N = 1001), we examine the impact of three c...
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This study examines the role of citizen trust in explaining climate policy support, using the case of low-carbon transportation policies in Canada – namely a carbon tax, electric vehicle purchase subsidies, and three regulations. Through a representative survey of 1,552 Canadian citizens collected in 2019, we assess: 1) support and opposition of po...
Article
Despite the large body of literature, there is still considerable debate and uncertainty about how consumers value fuel economy. This study explores how the presentation of fuel economy information can influence valuation using a stated choice experiment with comparative experimental conditions. We randomly assigned a nationally representative samp...
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We assess public support for three supply-focused transport regulations: vehicle emissions standards (VES), low-carbon fuel standards (LCFS), and zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) sales mandates. We implemented a survey across several regions with varying policy experience, using representative samples from Canada (n=1,552) and the US state of Californi...
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While the importance of social influence on transport-related choices is commonly acknowledged within the transport and travel behaviour research community, there remain several challenges in modelling influence in practice. This paper proposes a new analytical approach to measure the effects of attitudes of peers on the decision making process of...
Article
Transport CO2 emissions continue to grow globally despite advances in low-carbon technology and goal setting by numerous governments. In this Perspective, we summarize available evidence for the effectiveness of climate policies and policy mixes for road transport relative to 2030 and 2050 mitigation goals implied by the Paris Agreement. Current po...
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Policy is an important driver for the deployment of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). Most PEV policy research focuses on effectiveness in the short-term, even though policymakers i) typically consider a wider range of evaluation criteria and ii) are setting PEV sales goals in the longer-term (e.g., 2030 or 2040). This study develops a more compreh...
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Widespread uptake of battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (collectively zero-emissions vehicles or ZEVs) could help many regions achieve deep greenhouse gas mitigation goals. Using the case of Canada, this study investigates the extent to which increasing ZEV charging and refuelling availability may boost ZEV sales rela...
Chapter
Understanding the current and future market for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) requires an understanding of consumers, technology suppliers, policy, and the interplay between. We illustrate a mixed-method research program that explores this interplay, using the case of Canada. Our approach is “reflexive” in two ways. As researchers, we connect in...
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Despite policy support and technological progress, consumer adoption of electric vehicles remains limited globally. One important barrier to electric vehicle adoption may be limited consumer awareness. We investigate trends in consumer awareness, familiarity, and experience with electric vehicles by comparing cross-sectional survey responses from t...
Article
Among the broad literature on consumer research of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the role of brand perceptions is neglected. Consumers may gravitate towards automotive brands that they are accustomed to (“brand loyalty”), or they might prefer a new brand (i.e., Tesla) for being new and innovative (“pioneer brand advantage”). Further, BEV-suppor...
Article
This study quantified the well-to-wheel GHG emissions, total ownership costs and abatement cost for 16 different heavy-duty truck (HDT) drivetrains, including those powered by natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen. Using the case of British Columbia, Canada, we employed GPS activity data for almost 1600 container tractor-trailer trucks to extract...
Article
Car bans could contribute to both climate change and air-quality goals. However, most car bans announced to date lack enforcement mechanisms and are therefore not bans at all. Here, we provide recommendations to design car bans as a more-effective policy tool for sustainability.
Article
Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) can contribute to deep greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets but their efficacy depends on the sources of electricity. PEV GHG intensity can vary over time (and regionally), making it unclear how policymakers should regulate PEVs in the short and long-term. To explore this uncertainty, we model the short-term (Stud...
Article
We explore consumer demand for three types of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs): plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs). We assess latent demand, defined as what ZEV sales could be if they were fully available (in a wide variety of makes and models), and if consumers were ful...
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Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) could play a strong role in decarbonizing the transportation sector, leading some governments to set the goal of PEVs accounting for 30% of new sales by 2030 (e.g., the “[email protected]” campaign). To explore the feasibility of this goal, we use a behaviourally-realistic vehicle adoption model (REPAC) to simulate...
Article
This is Part 2 of a two-part study that explores latent demand for three types of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs): plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs). Using an in-depth, Reflexive Participant approach to data collection, our survey instrument includes two measures of la...
Article
Lifestyles can play an important role in shaping consumer behaviour regarding novel low-carbon technologies. In this study, we develop a conceptual framework based on lifestyle theory, which defines lifestyle as engagement in several related practices that inform and convey self-identity. We apply this theory to the case of plug-in electric vehicle...
Article
A low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) has been implemented in several regions to reduce the well-to-wheel carbon content of transportation fuels. This study explores the potential role of an LCFS in achieving deep, long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets in a region’s transportation sector, when implemented with other climate policies such as...
Article
This study presents a simulation framework for estimating on-road CO2 emissions of compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel tractor-trailer heavy-duty trucks under various operational conditions. A second-by-second component-level model was developed and then used to simulate seven distinct drive cycles. This paper specifically considers road grade,...
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Vehicle-grid integration (VGI) uses the interaction between electric vehicles and the electrical grid to provide benefits that may include reducing the cost of using intermittent renwable electricity or providing a financial incentive for electric vehicle ownerhip. However, studies that estimate the value of VGI benefits have largely ignored how co...
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Using samples from Canada (N = 1220) and the United States (N = 1001), we examined how performing a variety of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) predicted life satisfaction. Controlling for demographic characteristics and perceptions of ecological threat, more frequent engagement in pro-environmental behaviors predicted higher life satisfaction. A...
Article
The adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) is limited by a variety of barriers. Some are region-specific (e.g. availability of charging infrastructure) while others are global in nature (e.g. battery prices) where improvements spill over between regions. This study explores regional spillover effects and GHG impacts of strong ZEV-focused policy,...
Article
Many countries and regions are enacting plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) supportive policies in an ad-hoc manner, typically without clear goals or evaluation metrics. In this paper, we develop an evaluation framework based on the likely ability of a package of these policies to achieve one goal: PEVs capturing at least 40% of new passenger vehicle ma...
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Citizen support for climate policies is considered an important criterion in climate policy-making. While there is a growing body of literature exploring factors of citizen support, most studies tend to use climate policy support as an aggregate variable, overlooking differences in support for different climate policy types. This study examines cit...
Article
Researchers debate the cost-effectiveness of technology-specific versus technology-neutral climate policies, but few quantify the differences. Using the case of low-carbon vehicle technologies in the US passenger vehicle sector (ethanol, plug-in electric and hydrogen), we develop a technology adoption simulation model that represents increasing ret...
Article
Various “smart grid” technologies can help achieve a region's environmental and climate mitigation goals by facilitating the deployment of renewable energy sources, transportation electrification, energy conservation and load-shifting of electricity use. This study reviews and explores the role of environmental framing in the socio-political accept...
Article
Consumer demand is an important aspect of a successful transition to low-carbon technology—where consumers must have basic awareness and understanding of a technology in order to purchase and use it. In this study we explore consumer knowledge, confusion and perceptions for two related technology cases: plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and a progra...
Article
The entry of various plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) into the passenger vehicle sector provides novel opportunities to learn about the potential for future PEV markets. However, early PEV buyers (or "Pioneers") can substantially differ from present conventional vehicle owners that have interest in purchasing PEVs in the future (or the "Potential E...
Article
In the past three decades, government, industry and other stakeholders have repeatedly been swept up with the ‘fuel du jour’, claiming that a particular alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) technology can succeed in replacing conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. However, AFV technologies have experienced relatively little success, with fossil fuels st...
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Utility controlled-charging (UCC) of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) could potentially align vehicle charging with the availability of intermittent, renewable electricity sources. We investigated the case of a nightly charging program where the electric utility can control home PEV charging. To explore consumer acceptance of this form of UCC, we i...
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Policymakers often seek to increase the visibility of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) chargers in public locations in effort to build familiarity and interest in PEVs. However, it is not clear if the visibility of public charging stations actually has an impact on PEV demand. The purposes of the present study are to (1) assess the current levels of...
Article
We characterize heterogeneity in preferences and motivations regarding plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs)—including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). Using survey data collected from 1,754 new vehicle buying households in Canada in 2013, we segment respondents using two approaches that prove to be complementary. Preference-based se...
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Development of unconventional fossil fuels is generating controversy in North America, where citizen support or opposition can shape political decisions. This study explores the role of values in citizen perceptions. The case study is Canada׳s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline (NGP), which would transport bitumen from Alberta׳s oil sands to Britis...
Article
Social influence can be an important factor in the adoption of proenvironmental behaviors and technologies. Processes of social influence can be varied and complex yet are often represented or discussed in a simplified, aggregated manner. To facilitate more nuanced study of social influence, we draw from a literature review and empirical observatio...
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Mitigating further anthropogenic changes to the global climate will require reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (“abatement”), or else removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and/or diminishing solar input (“climate engineering”). Here, we develop and apply criteria to measure technical, economic, ecological, institutional, and ethical dimensions...
Article
We investigate the roles of social influence in the formation of consumer perceptions and preferences for pro-environmental technologies, using the example of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The context was a technology-based workplace in the U.K. with around 500 members of staff, 57 of whom took part in a BEV experience project in 2010. Several...
Article
We use a survey to compare consumers’ stated interest in conventional gasoline (CV), hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and pure electric vehicles (EV) of varying designs and prices. Data are from 508 households representing new vehicle buyers in San Diego County, California in 2011. The mixed-mode survey collected information about access to resi...
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The environmental benefits of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) increase if the vehicles are powered by electricity from 'green' sources such as solar, wind or small-scale hydroelectricity. Here, we explore the potential to build a market that pairs consumer purchases of PEVs with purchases of green electricity. We implement a web-based survey with...
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Realizing a low-carbon energy future requires pervasive changes in consumer behavior. Here, we examine the role of social influence in transitioning toward new low-carbon products and practices. We review and critique five research perspectives of how social interactions affect the spread of new behaviors through social networks: diffusion of funct...
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We explore sociological concepts of lifestyle practices as they relate to sustainable consumption. Specifically, we investigate how and why consumers may transition toward adopting and using new pro-environmental technologies (PETs), namely electric vehicles, solar panels, and a green electricity program. We build a conceptual framework from lifest...
Article
We construct consumer-informed estimates of residential access to vehicle charging to guide understanding of plug-in electric vehicle demand, use, and energy impacts. Using a web-based survey, study 1 estimates that about half of new car-buying US households park at least one vehicle within 25 ft of a Level 1 (110/120 V) electrical outlet at home....
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Although interpersonal influence is thought to play in important role in proenvironmental consumption behavior, mechanisms of influence are not well understood. Through literature review, we identify five theoretical perspectives on interpersonal influence: contagion, conformity, dissemination, translation, and reflexivity. We apply these perspecti...
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Although interpersonal influence is thought to play in important role in proenvironmental consumption behavior, mechanisms of influence are not well understood. Through literature review, we identify five theoretical perspectives on interpersonal influence: contagion, conformity, dissemination, translation, and reflexivity. We apply these perspecti...
Article
This paper explores how Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) may reduce source-to-wheel Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from passenger vehicles. The two primary advances are the incorporation of (1) explicit measures of consumer interest in and potential use of different types of PHEVs and (2) a model of the California electricity grid capable of differe...
Article
We explore the role of interpersonal influence in car buyer’s perceptions of plug-in hybrid vehicles. The context is a PHEV demonstration project at the University of California, Davis, from which individuals from the social networks of 10 households participated in a four to six-week trial. Social interactions were observed between participants an...
Chapter
This chapter focuses on the state of development of batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The battery plays a crucial role in the PHEV architecture by storing energy from the electrical grid and from the gasoline engine, through a generator, as well as passing energy back and forth with the electric motor to maximize efficiency. T...
Article
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can be powered by gasoline, grid electricity, or both. To explore potential PHEV energy impacts, a three-part survey instrument collected data from new vehicle buyers in California. We combine the available information to estimate the electricity and gasoline use under three recharging scenarios. Results sug...
Article
The notion persists that battery technology and cost remain as barriers to commercialization of electric-drive passenger vehicles. Within the context of starting a market for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), we explore two aspects of the purported problem: (1) PHEV performance goals and (2) the abilities of present and near-term battery ch...
Article
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are proposed as both a near-term technology to achieve energy and environmental goals and as a transitional step toward viable all-electric vehicles. To replace assumptions with observations of potential PHEV drivers' behavior in market and impact analyses, an Internet-based survey of 2,373 new-car-buying ho...
Article
According to intuition and theories of diffusion, consumer preferences develop along with technological change. However, most economic models designed for policy simulation unrealistically assume static preferences. To improve the behavioral realism of an energy–economy policy model, this study investigates the “neighbor effect,” where a new techno...
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To explore the potential energy impacts of widespread PHEV use, an innovative, three-part survey instrument collected data from 877 new vehicle buyers in California. This analysis combines all the available information from each respondent—driving, recharge potential, and PHEV design priorities—to estimate the energy impacts of the respondentsâ...
Article
Will people recharge a vehicle that does not have to be recharged? This, and the degree to which plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) designs emphasize gasoline or electricity, are central to assessing the energy and environmental effects of PHEVs. Plug-in conversions of hybrid vehicles are being made available to (predominately new-car buying) h...
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To explore the role of social interactions in individuals’ assessments of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), this study analyzes over 190 social (interpersonal) interactions elicited in interviews with 31 individuals in eight different social networks centered on households in the Sacramento, California region. Results are framed within fi...
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This report discusses the development of advanced batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) applications. We discuss the basic design concepts of PHEVs, compare three sets of influential technical goals, and explain the inherent trade-offs in PHEV battery design. We then discuss the current state of several battery chemistries, including...
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Vehicles that can run on both electricity and gasoline—so-called plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)—are proposed as both a near-term technology to achieve energy and environmental goals and a transitional step toward viable all-electric vehicles addressing many of the same goals. Whether PHEVs meet any of their goals depends not only on t...
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Full-text available
According to intuition and theories of diffusion, consumer preferences change. However, conventional economic demand models unrealistically assume static preferences. This study explores the role of preference dynami cs in the diffusion of an emerging vehicle technology , the hybrid - electric vehicle (HEV). I explore the 'neighbor effect', where a...

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