Abstract:
Cost is an inhibitor for the majority of the population from participating in green transportation via hybrid and electric vehicles. The total cost of ownership for a family to replace their vehicles exceeds what most of the population is willing to pay. Only 13% of the population could afford to replace all of their vehicles with green vehicles without increasing their budgeted transportation costs. Therefore for social equity, there needs to be cost effective alternatives to vehicle transportation so that all people may use green technologies in transportation. Transit is a green method of transportation but green technology through hybridization of buses is making it possible for lower income people to use green technology.