Tracking National Household Vehicle Usage by Type, Age, and Area in Support of Market Assessments for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

摘要

This paper examines usage for household vehicles to support assessment of the market potentialof plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which require high usage rates for the technologyinvestment to pay off. According to the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), about40% of household vehicles were not used on the survey travel day [1]. This study analyzedhousehold vehicle use and non-use by vehicle type, age, and area type (metropolitan statisticalarea [MSA] and non-MSA). Vehicles used on survey day with or without a reported travel timeand distance in the survey are considered “vehicles used.” All others are referred to as “vehiclesnot used.” We divided the “vehicles not used” into three categories: (1) left at home while usingother household vehicles, (2) not used because travelers used other modes, and (3) no householdtrips. The “vehicle used” category comprises two categories: (1) those with distance and timedata and (2) those with no travel data. Within these five categories, vehicles were furthersubdivided according to four vehicle types: car, van, SUV, and pickup. Each vehicle type wasfurther subdivided in two age groups: 10 years or less (<=10) and more than 10 years (>10). Inaddition, vehicle usage was compared in both MSAs and non-MSAs and during weekdays andweekends. Results indicate that most vehicles, especially pickups, are not used because thehouseholds own and use other vehicles. Moreover, SUVs — especially newer SUVs (<=10 years)— are the most utilized vehicle type and should be considered as the first available vehicle typefor new-technology vehicles.