Regional Adoption and Diffusion of Sustainable Fleets in Local Government

Focus Area

Energy

Subcommittee

Air Quality

Status

Archived

Cost

$100k-$249k

Timeframe

1-2 years

Research Idea Scope

Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are an important component of a sustainable approach to clean, healthy air and efficient use of energy. Increased use of AFVs has the potential to lower emissions and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Targeting government fleets for AFV conversion can be cost-effective because government fleet purchase and replacement behavior is often politically motivated. For example, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) requires federal and state agencies and alternative fuel providers purchase a percentage of light-duty AFVs each year. There are knowledge gaps in understanding the adoption and diffusion of sustainable AFV technologies in government fleets . Specifically, research is needed to (1) articulate a defensible measure of sustainable practice at the fleet level, (2) examine the social networks that link fleet organizations, and (3) determine the policy and organizational factors that constrain the decision environment of adopters.

Urgency and Payoff

Results will provide guidance to practitioners who seek to improve their sustainable bottom line and to policy makers who seek to motivate greater environmental stewardship. The project will help inform policy makers about effective ways to influence fleet networks in ways that promote adoption of sustainable technologies regionally.

Suggested By

Jie Lin, University of Illinois at Chicago

[email protected]

Submitted

06/15/2007