Rise and fall of diesel cars; A consumer choice analysis
- Univ. of California-Davis, CA (US)
The search for alternative transportation fuels must be undertaken with an understanding of the retail markets for vehicles and fuels. The authors of this paper examine the history of the diesel car, as the only important alternative to gasoline in the U.S. household vehicle market, with the specific intent of exploring the conditions under which individuals would purchase a nongasoline vehicle. Diesel car sales rose from less than 1 percent of new car sales in 1976 to 6 percent by 1981, and then collapsed to less than 1 percent by 1985. A survey of diesel car owners was conducted in California to determine why diesel car sales rose and fell so sharply. The rise of diesel car sales was fueled by expected fuel cost savings. However, it was found that consumers relied on per gallon fuel prices, not per mile fuel costs or fully allocated total costs as the indicator of whether diesel cars were economically superior.
- OSTI ID:
- 5661962
- Journal Information:
- Transportation Research Record; (United States), Vol. 1175; ISSN 0361-1981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AUTOMOBILES
DIESEL ENGINES
COST
PUBLIC OPINION
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FUEL SUBSTITUTION
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
DIESEL FUELS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
FOSSIL FUELS
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HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
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PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
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330102* - Internal Combustion Engines- Diesel
320203 - Energy Conservation
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& Utilization- Transportation- Land & Roadway