Exploring bus operator preferences for zero-emission buses with a hybrid choice model

Zero-emission buses (ZEBs) are gaining attention as a sustainable solution for public transport. This study explores the preferences of bus operators for electric buses (E-buses) and hydrogen buses (H-buses) in Taiwan, using a latent class hybrid choice model. Survey data were collected from bus company representatives across more than half of Taiwanese bus companies and accommodated both fleet attributes and attitudinal factors, such as perceived safety, reliability, and policy readiness. Three operator groups were identified: performance-driven adopters, moderate adopters, and conservative-oriented. Performance-driven adopters strongly prefer H-buses, moderate adopters favor E-buses, and conservative-oriented tend to reject ZEBs. Across all groups, perceptions of safety and reliability are more influential than policy readiness, meaning operational concerns have a greater impact on adoption decisions than policy expectations. Policy suggestions include piloting H-bus projects for performance-driven adopters, phased E-bus deployment for moderate adopters, and cautious engagement for conservative-oriented operators. These insights facilitate the development of tailored policies to accelerate the transition to sustainable bus fleets.