The transition to zero-emission buses in public transport - The need for institutional innovation

Sjoerd Bakker, Rob Konings

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    53 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Zero-emission buses (ZEBs) are considered a vital element in the transition to a more sustainable (urban) transport system. Both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses do however face significant barriers to large-scale implementation. These barriers, e.g. high investment costs and limited driving range, are generally regarded as exogenous technological barriers which are beyond the sphere of influence of actors in the public transport sector. In this paper we question this assumption and therefore we look at the role of institutions in public bus transport. Based on a series of interviews with stakeholders in the Dutch public transport sector we argue that various regulative, normative, and cognitive institutions discourage the use of zero-emission buses in public transport. We conclude with several suggestions for institutional innovation to increase the chances for these buses.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)204-215
    Number of pages12
    JournalTransportation Research. Part D: Transport & Environment
    Volume64 (2018)
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Keywords

    • Electric buses
    • Electric mobility
    • Innovation
    • Institutional innovation
    • Public transport

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