Regulating the formation of transport networks
Harry van der Weijde (VU University Amsterdam)

Privately constructed and operated railways have a long history, and private investors are now again increasingly being looked upon to fund the necessary new infrastructure. The interest in private road supply is also increasing. However, if private operators not only control road prices or fares, but also decide which transport links are built, this could result not only in sub-optimal road prices or fares, but also in a network that looks much different then the social optimum. We therefore examine which factors influence the formation of private transport networks, and investigate different policies to control it.

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Changing Propulsion System and Refuelling Behaviour: Dutch Drivers’ Preferences for Electric Cars and Plug-in Hybrids
Alexandros Dmitropolous (VU University Amsterdam)

In light of recent developments in electric vehicle (EV) technologies and the associated refuelling infrastructure, we employ a choice experiment to elicit Dutch drivers’ preferences for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and two types of battery EVs (BEVs), one allowing for fast-charging and one for battery-swapping at specialised stations. We find that the advantages that PHEVs provide over their BEV counterparts are much appreciated by consumers, whereas swappable-battery EVs are drivers’ least preferred alternative. Our analysis further reveals strong non-linearities in the effects of changes in driving range, refuel time and coverage of refuelling infrastructure on drivers’ utility, as well as considerable heterogeneity in consumer preferences.