Exploring Bus Service Providers' Preferences for Zero-Emission Bus Fleets

Adopting zero-emission buses (ZEBs) as a sustainable and low-emission public transport mode has garnered governments” attention worldwide. This study proposes several policy strategies to accelerate the adoption of ZEBs. Additionally, we utilize a latent class-integrated choice and latent variable (LC-ICLV) model to analyze Taiwanese bus service provider's (BSPs) perceptions and the factors influencing their preferences for ZEBs. Based on 93 valid samples of BSPs in Taiwan, it is shown that perceived safety and sustainability affect the willingness to adopt. The results indicate that range and purchase cost are the most influential factors among the survey attributes. Furthermore, the study identifies three distinct preference groups among BSPs: technology acceptance, cautious, and conservative. Providers in the technology acceptance group strongly prefer hydrogen buses, while those in the cautious group favor electric buses; conversely, most providers in the conservative group show no clear preference between hydrogen and electric buses. Policymakers can consider interventions such as subsidies or tax reductions to encourage the adoption of ZEBs. It is advisable to continue hydrogen bus promotions for the technology acceptance group, while technical support can ease concerns in the cautious group. For the conservative group, subsidies or risk-sharing mechanisms may aid the ZEB transition. Such interventions would foster a more sustainable and environmentally friendly public transport system.