Public perceptions and acceptance of electric buses among urban residents in Poland

Electrification of the bus fleet is a key element in the transformation of transportation systems in many citiesworldwide. This process involves significant investments in both vehicles and infrastructure. Given the fundingmechanisms of public transportation systems, it is crucial that investments in electric buses receive broadpublic support. In the context of achieving sustainable development goals, increasing the share of publictransport at the expense of individual car travel is particularly important. To facilitate this shift, it is essentialthat city residents perceive the benefits of using electric buses compared to conventional vehicles.The aim of this study is to assess public perceptions of bus fleet electrification and determine the level of support forthis process. The analysis considers both indirect support, reflected in the acceptance of municipal investments inelectric vehicles, and direct support, measured by the willingness to bear higher travel costs for electric bus services.The results show that residents of large Polish cities perceive electric buses as significantly more environmentallyfriendly, quieter, more comfortable, and more modern than diesel-powered buses, while rating both vehicle typessimilarly in terms of reliability. The experience of traveling by electric buses has a positive effect on the evaluation ofthese attributes . Respondents expressed a moderately high level of indirect support for electric buses investments,yet their willingness to accept higher ticket prices was lower. Weak but positive correlations were observedbetween willingness to pay more and higher ratings of electric buses features, particularly reliability, comfort, andenvironmental impact. In addition, the experience of traveling by electric buses was positively associated withexpectations that cities should continue to invest in such vehicles but not with willingness to pay higher fares.Furthermore, frequent public transport users were significantly less likely to be indifferent to the type of bus theyuse, suggesting that the strongest supporters of electric buses are those who benefit from them in daily travel.These findings provide empirical insights into the determinants of public acceptance of BEB investments andhighlight the importance of both experiential factors and perceived vehicle attributes in shaping societalsupport for zero-emission public transport.