Rebound effects caused by the improvement of vehicle energy efficiency: An analysis based on a SP-off-RP survey

•Direct and indirect rebound effects for private vehicle in Japan are investigated.•SP-off-RP method is used to identify the existence and distribution of rebounds.•34% of respondents have the reallocation choices which cause rebound effect.•Rebound effects from vehicles are more possible to occur in domestic sector.

This study provide a straightforward way of examining the rebound effects of switching to more fuel efficient technologies, as well as determining the distribution of the effects in the household sector, including both the residential and transport sectors. A SP-off-RP survey conducted in Japan in 2012 asked people to state their preference for the reallocation behaviors after informing them of their annual operating cost saving resulting from the vehicle efficiency improvement. Coupled who save money from relocation are more likely to spend this either on housing features or transport; supporting the idea of rebound effects, although not only limited to within the transport sector. Regarding the distribution of rebound effects, domestic appliances are more likely to be affected than vehicles.