This paper presents results of an online stated choice experiment on preferences of Dutch
private car owners for alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and their characteristics. Results
show that negative preferences for alternative fuel vehicles are large, especially for the
electric and fuel cell car, mostly as a result of their limited driving range and considerable
refueling times. Preference for AFVs increases considerably with improvements on driving
range, refueling time and fuel availability. Negative AFV preferences remain, however, also
with substantial improvements in AFV characteristics; the remaining willingness to accept
is on average € 10,000–€ 20,000 per AFV. Results from a mixed logit model show that consumer
preferences for AFVs and AFV characteristics are heterogeneous to a large extent, in
particular for the electric car, additional detour time and fuel time for the electric and fuel
cell car. An interaction model reveals that annual mileage is by far the most important
factor that determines heterogeneity in preferences for the electric and fuel cell car.
When annual mileage increases, the preference for electric and fuel cell cars decreases substantially,
whilst the willingness to pay for driving range increases substantially. Other
variables such as using the car for holidays abroad and the daily commute also appear
to be relevant for car choice.