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This research developed EV Explorer 2.0, an online vehicle cost calculator (VCC) to meet the requirements of transportation network company (TNC) drivers considering acquiring an electric vehicle (EV). The tool was built to also support the needs of other users considering an EV, including other types of gig economy drivers as well as the general population of non-professional drivers. EV Explorer 2.0 includes several important features and functionalities to support the TNC driver use case that are not found in any other available tool: (1) It allows users to estimate TCO for used vehicles as well as new (others only estimate TCO for new vehicles); (2) Outputs include ridehail-driving income estimates, accounting for EV trip bonuses offered by Uber, net driving costs; (3) Estimates of total cost of driving (TCD) include charging network membership fees and charging session fees (in addition to electricity prices). It also includes key features found in other leading tools, such as presenting and tailoring EV purchase/lease incentive estimates (based on a database we developed), and innovative features to benefit all users, such asanimations conveying the social and environmental impacts of vehicle choice. Design features were informed and validated inuser testing with TNC drivers who had expressed interest in EV adoption. View the NCST Project Webpage

Solar water heating provides domestic hot water with lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to more typical natural-gas water heating. Solar water heating has a long history, particularly in places where the climate is favorable, such as California where state-backed incentive programs have been successful in creating small bursts of adoption. However, widespread adoption of solar water heating has not occurred in California despite these conditions. This research surveyed 227 single-family households with solar water heating across the state of California to understand their motivations and experiences, and draw implications regarding barriers to adoption. The survey explored households’ experiences across five stages of adoption, as outlined in Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation theory: Knowledge, Persuasion, Decision, Implementation, and Confirmation. Findings revealed challenges at each stage. Most notably, prevalent disappointment in lower-than-expected energy and bill savings (31%) and high rates of technical problems (41%) appear to be the most significant issues.

Robo-taxis (automated vehicles operating in a ride-hailing model) have the potential to improve mobility while reducing traffic, emissions, and energy use. However, such outcomes depend largely on increasing riders per vehicle. Public policy that incentivizes industry to design robo-taxis to support ride-pooling may be critical to achieving positive outcomes. This research reviews current shared automated vehicle designs and literature related to potential consumer risks and benefits of ride-pooling in robo-taxis in order to articulate potential design solutions to promote pooling.

Consumer education regarding the costs of electric vehicles (EVs), particularly in comparison with similar gasoline vehicles, is important for adoption. However, the complexity of comparing gasoline and electricity prices, and balancing long-term return-on-investment from fuel and maintenance savings with purchase premiums for EVs, makes it difficult for consumers to assess potential economic advantages. Online vehicle cost calculators (VCCs) may help consumers navigate this complexity by providing tailored estimates of different types of vehicles costs for users and enabling comparisons across multiple vehicles. However, VCCs range widely and there has been virtually no behavioral research to identify functionalities and features that determine their usefulness in engaging and educating consumers and promoting EV adoption. This research draws on a behavioral theory, systematic review of available VCCs, and user research with three VCCs to articulate design recommendations for effective VCCs.View the NCST Project Webpage

HVAC energy use is typically the largest energy load in low-income households, which have fewer plug and appliance loads and suffer from substandard HVAC systems and poor building envelope. Connected thermostats, with features like remote control and machine learning, can be a cost-effective strategy to reduce HVAC energy use, but these devices are prohibitively expensive for low-income households. This research was part of a larger project to develop and test an affordable connected thermostat designed for low-income households. This paper presents results from usability testing of the thermostat mobile app and two iterations of the thermostat hardware with a total of 27 households from two low-income communities in Sacramento, California. We present findings regarding user preferences for using the app versus the hardware for different functionalities and the value of remote control via Bluetooth rather than Internet. Usability implications of trade-offs between functionality, cost, and design are discussed.

Shared micromobility services that offer bikes and scooters on demand are complementing walking, cycling, and public transport to expand the role of active mobility in urban transportation. However, on-demand services are often introduced at a faster pace than streets are redesigned to protect the safety of users. The lack of safe street infrastructure limits the potential mode shift to micromobility and the associated benefits. Active travel advocacy groups can make a critical difference, but they generally lack access to data resources. In 2020, Spin, a shared micromobility company, launched an initiative called Mobility Data for Safer Streets (MDSS). This involved equipping six advocacy organizations in five US cities with a suite of mobility data tools to support their efforts to make streets safer. This research sought to understand how access to mobility data can help active travel advocates be more effective and was assessed via interviews with awardees throughout the 15-month program. Access to data improved advocates' effectiveness in working with the local government, garnering community support, supporting underserved communities, and advocating safe streets for all road users in their work. The MDSS model can be replicated to empower advocates or other stakeholders to advance collective understanding of active travel and influence supportive planning and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging studies focus on minority stressors emanating from society's stigmatization of particular relationship forms (i.e., couple-level minority stressors). The present study examines how same-sex couples experience one such couple-level minority stressor: limitations to participation in families of origin. Qualitative data are drawn from a sub-sample of same-sex couples (N = 18) who participated in a large-scale study of minority stress among 120 same-sex couples distributed equally across two study sites (Atlanta and San Francisco) in 2012 and 2013. Instances of limitations to participation in families of origin ranged in severity, falling into three distinct areas: 1) partial acceptance, where some family members were accepting and others were not, 2) mixed messages where some family members said they were accepting but behaved as though they were not and, 3) rejection, where some family members were blatantly unwelcoming or hostile. These types of exclusion were also evidenced in dyadic minority stress processes of stress proliferation (e.g., stress discrepancies and stress contagion) causing additional stress for both partners. These narratives portray struggles associated with experiences of couple-level minority stress faced by people in same-sex relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]