SIMULATION OF VEHICLE INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAICS (VIPV) SYSTEMS ON PUBLIC BUSES IN SINGAPORE AND ASSESSMENT OF CONSUMERS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SOLAR POWERED BUS RIDES

Abstract

There is an increasing awareness of the need for cities to reduce carbon footprint and to build a sustainable transport system. Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV) is a promising solution to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. However, the amount of energy yield by the VIPV system is affected by the amount of shade cast by surrounding infrastructure and landscape. For effective widespread deployment of VIPV systems on public buses, it is also necessary to gather support and engage the public. As public support is critical to drive renewable energy uptake across the transport sector, it is crucial to understand public opinion and motivators. Hence, the purpose of this study is to 1) simulate the amount of solar energy generated by a VIPV system on a diesel-powered public bus in Singapore to reduce fuel consumption, and 2) to identify possible factors that drives consumers’ willingness to pay a price premium for zero emission public bus rides.