Abstract This study evaluates whether a motorist's choice over green cars (i.e., cars with featuring low emissions) and non-green cars (i.e., cars featuring high emissions) is efficient. To this end, we present a micro-founded model of motorist choice incorporating the impact of eco-incentives and taxation on emissions. Subsequently, we implement data envelopment analysis on a large database of new cars registered in 2019 to evaluate efficiency. The results show that the motorist's optimal choice (green car) does not coincide with the efficient choice. Moreover, motorist choice is mainly guided by the high price of green cars. On average, the efficient choice coincides with cars that end up in the dark area (they do not benefit from eco-incentives and do not pay the pollution tax), being the cheapest, the lightest, the least powerful (low Kw) and petrol fuelled. On average, these elements pertain to Italian motorists with respect to their tastes; most importantly, their budgets do not go well with the high costs of green cars.
Highlights We present a model of motorists' optimal choice. We verify if a motorist's optimal choice coincides with their efficient choice. Eco-bonus is not sufficient because the optimal choice coincides with the efficient one. We implement an efficiency analysis via data envelopment analysis. Price is an important factor regarding the choice of the car.
Are green cars an optimal and efficient choice for motorists? Evidence from Italy
Transport Policy ; 141 ; 140-151
2023-07-14
12 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Data envelopment analysis , Efficient consumer , Sustainable development , Transportation economics , Externalities , Consumer choices , O18 , Q01 , Q02 , R4 , H21 , H23 , D1
Gasoline choice behaviour of motorists
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1991
|Motorists attitude to cars and the environment
Automotive engineering | 1991
|The value of motorists' time : a study in Italy
TIBKAT | 1972
|The Value of Motorists' Time: A Study in Italy
NTIS | 1972
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993
|