Understanding commuter preferences for shared autonomous electric vehicles in first-mile-last-mile scenario

Abstract

Urban transportation faces pressing challenges, especially in enhancing the efficiency of first-mile and last-mile (FMLM) connections. This study focuses on Shared Autonomous Electric Vehicles (SAEV) as a sustainable solution to integrate public transit with urban commuting needs. By employing a hybrid choice model, we analyze various commuter characteristics, including socio-demographic information, daily commuting characteristics, level of service (LOS) attributes, and latent psychological preferences. The results indicate that SAEV have significant potential to shift commuters from private car usage to more sustainable public transit options, particularly among young, single, middle-income urban residents, with young married women emerging as potential target users. However, the uncertainty of SAEV as an on-demand service could potentially deter users. This research underscores the critical role of understanding commuter preferences in urban transport planning, offering a nuanced approach to fostering sustainable mobility solutions that could significantly reduce urban congestion and enhance the efficiency of public transit systems.