Why are Californians interested in hybrid cars?

Sangkapichai, Saphores, 2009, in Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

Location	California, USA
Population	General
Sample size	1907
Factor analysis type	principal components, promax rotation
Stepwise regression	nan
Removal of insignificant variables	yes
Reviewed by	LCM

Abstract

This paper explores quantitatively Californians' interest in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) based on a statewide phone survey conducted in July 2004 by the Public Policy Institute of California. The paper develops ordered choice models and factors that summarise beliefs about energy and the environment using principal component analysis. As expected, Californians concerned about the environment, energy efficiency, global warming and recent increases in the price of gasoline state a higher interest in hybrids; an even more important reason for considering hybrid electric vehicles, however, is the possibility of using high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes while driving alone, especially for people with potentially long commutes to work. The findings also suggest that beliefs about energy and the environment should be included in vehicle type choice models.

Factors

Variable	Pattern loading
Is air pollution a big problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem in your region? (Environmentalism)	0.251
How serious a health threat is air pollution in your region to you and your immediate family - do you think that is is a very serious, somewhat serious, or not too serious a health threat? (Environmentalism)	0.249

Variable	Pattern loading
How much optimism do you have that we will have better air quality in California 20 years from now than we do today? (Environmentalism)	0.067
In general, which one of these statements is closest to your view? (0 = protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth; 1 = both equally, 2 = economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent) (Environmentalism)	0.129
Overall, do you think the federal government is doing not enough/just enough/more than enough to protect the environment in the United States? (Environmentalism)	0.154
Overall, do you think the state government is doing not enough/just enough/more than enough to protect the environment in the United States? (Environmentalism)	0.15

Variable	Pattern loading
What about the goal of having 15% of NEW homes in California run at least partially in SOLAR power starting in 2006? (Environmentalism)	0.108
What about doubling the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, over the next 10 years from 10% of all California power today to 20%? (Environmentalism)	0.106
What about a plan to have California lead the nation in the development of hydrogen-fuel cell technology by building a hydrogen highway with 200 hydrogen fueling stations by 2010? (Environmentalism)	0.095
How about requiring automakers to significantly improve the fuel efficiency of cars sold in this country? (Environmentalism)	0.08
How about setting the objective that all the western states increase their energy efficiency by 20 percent in 2020? (Environmentalism)	0.111

Variable	Pattern loading
How about allowing more oil drilling off the California coast? (Environmentalism)	0.255
How about allowing new oil drilling in federally-protected areas such as the Alaskan wilderness? (Environmentalism)	0.258

Variable	Pattern loading
Do you believe the theory than increased carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere will, if unchecked, lead to global warming? (Environmentalism)	0.129
Do you think it is necessary to take steps to counter the effects fo global warming RIGHT AWAY, or isn't it necessary to take steps yet? (Environmentalism)	0.13
What about the state law that requires all automakers to further reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from new cars in California by 2009? Do you support or oppose this law? (Environmentalism)	0.113
What about adding $6 to the vehicle license fee for NEW cars and exempting new cars from smog checks for the first six years in order to pay for a state program to put cleaner engines in older diesel buses, trucks, and other equipment - do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? (Environmentalism)	0.07
What about requiring ALL TRUCKS that deliver goods into California, including trucks from Mexico, to meet federal air pollution standards - do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? (Environmentalism)	0.059

Models

Dependent variable	Probability of being interested in hybrids
Model type	Ordered logit
Sample size	1907.0
R²	nan
Adjusted R²
Pseudo R² (nan)	0.149
AIC	2369.06
BIC	2507.89
Log-likelihood at zero	nan
Log-likelihood at constants	nan
Log-likelihood at convergence	-1159.527

Variable	Coefficient	p-value
Age 25-34	2.063	0.001
Some college education	-0.765	0.0
College graduate	-0.809	0.0
Professional	-0.626	0.001
Annual income: $20,000-$40,000	0.264	0.087
Annual income: $40,000-$60,000	0.398	0.012
Annual income: $80,000-$100,000	nan	nan
Annual income: > $100,000	0.316	0.063
Refused to disclose income	nan	nan
Caucasian/white/non-Hispanic	-0.346	0.012
Black/African American	nan	nan
Doesn't own/lease an SUV	-0.391	0.003
Believes gas price increases are permanent	-0.37	0.001
Did not drive less when gas prices increased	0.255	0.032
Allowing hybrids in HOV lanes is a bad idea	0.638	0.0
Lives in county adjacent to county with HOV lanes	-0.296	0.075
Economy over environment/air quality	0.566	0.032
For energy efficiency	-2.363	0.0
Air pollution and health concerns	-0.606	0.001
Global warming concerns	-0.715	0.006
For finding more oil*For energy efficiency	0.899	0.0
Age 25-34*For energy efficiency	-2.541	0.001
Age 55-64*No answer about hybrids in HOV lanes	1.193	0.031
Age 65 or older*No support for hybrids in HOV lanes	-0.666	0.039
Age 65 or older*For energy efficiency	0.823	0.0
Hispanic/Latino*For finding more oil	-1.082	0.0
For energy efficiency*No answer about hybrids in HOV lanes	nan	nan
t1	-2.028	0.0
t2	-1.736	0.0

Dependent variable	Probability of being interested in hybrids
Model type	Heteroskedastic ordered logit
Sample size	1907.0
R²	nan
Adjusted R²
Pseudo R² (nan)	0.158
AIC	2351.11
BIC	2506.6
Log-likelihood at zero	nan
Log-likelihood at constants	nan
Log-likelihood at convergence	-1147.554

Variable	Coefficient	p-value
Age 25-34	1.302	0.006
Some college education	-0.558	0.0
College graduate	-0.573	0.0
Professional	-0.538	0.002
Annual income: $20,000-$40,000	0.352	0.004
Annual income: $40,000-$60,000	0.422	0.003
Annual income: $80,000-$100,000	0.369	0.047
Annual income: > $100,000	0.387	0.01
Refused to disclose income	0.475	0.011
Caucasian/white/non-Hispanic	nan	nan
Black/African American	0.285	0.07
Doesn't own/lease an SUV	-0.279	0.007
Believes gas price increases are permanent	-0.328	0.0
Did not drive less when gas prices increased	nan	nan
Allowing hybrids in HOV lanes is a bad idea	0.499	0.0
Lives in county adjacent to county with HOV lanes	-0.312	0.023
Economy over environment/air quality	nan	nan
For energy efficiency	-2.023	0.0
Air pollution and health concerns	nan	nan
Global warming concerns	-6.56	0.0
For finding more oil*For energy efficiency	0.645	0.0
Age 25-34*For energy efficiency	-1.649	0.005
Age 55-64*No answer about hybrids in HOV lanes	nan	nan
Age 65 or older*No support for hybrids in HOV lanes	-0.525	0.047
Age 65 or older*For energy efficiency	0.614	0.001
Hispanic/Latino*For finding more oil	-0.446	0.013
For energy efficiency*No answer about hybrids in HOV lanes	0.555	0.008
Female	-0.27	0.004
Owns a full-size vehicle	0.322	0.075
Air pollution and health concerns	-0.514	0.0
Did not cut back significantly on driving * Economy over environment/air quality	0.637	0.008
t1	-1.523	0.0
t2	-1.287	0.0