Assessing customer preferences for hydrogen-powered street sweepers: A choice experiment

The large variety of potential hydrogen and fuel cell applications and the associated uncertainties of selecting a particular application pose a challenge for developers in the field: identifying and evaluating promising market niches. Therefore, we conducted an online survey comprising a choice experiment in Switzerland and Germany to assess fleet decision-makers’ preferences for hydrogen-powered street sweepers compared to (more) conventional diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG)/biogas vehicles. The findings indicate that the fleet decision-making structures and vehicle operating practices make street sweeper fleets a promising application for the early implementation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Furthermore, the results show that a market niche for hydrogen-powered sweepers exists in both countries. The choice experiment was a useful approach for the identification of promising market niches and thereby reduces the uncertainties of application selection.

► In Switzerland and Germany, a market niche for hydrogen-powered sweepers exists.
► It is critical that the H2 is generated renewably to exploit the market niche.
► Fleet refueling practices & decision rules are favorable for early implementation.
► Field trials are necessary because fleet managers are largely uninformed about H2.
► The choice experiment proved to be fruitful for market niche identification.