Modeling Indian four-wheeler commuters’ travel behavior concerning fuel efficiency improvement policy

• Studies relation between fuel efficiency improvement support & travel behavior.
• Commuters support fuel efficiency improvements towards emission abatements.
• Fuel efficiency improvements positively influence travel behavior of commuters.
• Commuters prefer to own and travel more in fuel efficient cars.
• Study revealed the existence of direct rebound effects in Indian transport sector.

The present study examines the relation between the Indian commuters’ travel behavior and their support for vehicle fuel efficiency improvement policy towards energy conservation and environment protection. Data was collected through an attitudinal questionnaire survey conducted among selected commuters in south India. The set hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling approach. The data analysis results revealed that the Indian commuters have a supporting attitude for vehicle fuel efficiency improvement policy towards fuel consumption and emission abatements. The modeling results also show that this policy has a positive influence in shaping the travel behavior of the commuters. This in turn shows that the implementation of this policy will modify the commuters behavioral intention leading to a travel behavior of having more car trips and hence longer travels. Besides the awareness over the threats of fuel consumption and emissions, the Indian commuters are interested in having more travel activities with fuel efficient cars. This shows the existence of direct rebound effect in the Indian personal transport sector. This behavior of the commuters can offset the benefits, which are expected out of the fuel efficiency improvement policy and reduced car use, of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission abatements in the country.