Modeling Consumer Adoption of Alternative-Fuel Vehicles In Dane County, Wisconsin

Abstract

With the rapid development of technology and increase in human activities, the existing resources have been consumed at unprecedented speed, which also gives rise to the growing environmental concerns. For instance, there is mounting evidence of global warming in the increasing lands, the ocean temperatures, melting Polar icebergs, and the warmest years ever since the Industrial Revolution. In view of the concerns for global warming, at the climate conference in Copenhagen in 2009, the U.S. government promised to reduce the nation?s annual greenhouse gas discharge to 83% of 2005?s emission level by the year 2020. Furthermore, according to American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), also known as Waxman-Markey Bill, the U.S. proposes to decrease its future greenhouse gas emissions to 58% of 2005 level by 2030, and 17% by 2050. World widely, the transportation industry accounts for nearly 50% of gasoline consumption, and approximately a quarter of commercial energy used, especially in the U.S. Moreover, transportation section is believed to account for 47% of the net increase in total U.S. emissions since 1990. At the same time, the number of vehicles on the road continues to rise, thanks to the growing consumer demand. This growth of vehicle fleet provides great convenience to the whole nation as well as individuals in society. However, this expansion in the vehicle fleet of cars contributes to the energy and environmental concerns.