Are overhead catenary trucks perceived as legitimate and accepted? Evidence from Germany

Catenary trucks (CT) are part of electric road systems (ERS) and allow charging while driving, i.e. dynamic charging. ERS can contribute to the decarbonization of heavy road transport, as direct electric concepts have the best climate balance compared to alternative technologies. Catenary systems are being tested in real operation in Germany.

In this paper, we analyze the perceived legitimacy and social acceptance of CT systems in German society. To answer the research question, we look at industry actors, the general population, and local residents of a field test and combine different qualitative methods in an innovative multi-method approach.

We find that both the legitimacy and the acceptance of the technology are poor in Germany, i.e., structural and behavioral factors need to be changed to accommodate the technology. While manufacturers were primarily concerned with efficiency and costs, local citizens were concerned with traffic impact and safety.