Do non-ionizing radiation concerns affect people's choice between hybrid and traditional cars?

Abstract

Do non-ionizing radiation concerns affect people's choice between hybrid and traditional cars? Anat Tchetchik, Sigal Kaplan, Orit Rotem-Mindali O. Do non-ionizing radiation concerns affect people's choice between hybrid and traditional cars? Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 131, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2024.104226. Abstract The growing market for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) has raised concerns about the long-term impacts of non-ionizing radiation (NIR) exposure. This study is the first to address the impact of NIR on consumer choice between HEV and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. We explore the hypothesis that NIR is associated with a lower probability of HEV choice in the presence of NIR information and the relative effect of NIR-health concerns versus environmental attitudes and driving norms. The data are collected from a stated choice experiment and estimated via a hybrid choice model. The results show that i NIR is associated with a lower choice probability of HEV, ii NIR-dread is associated with a higher probability of choosing ICE vehicles, while skepticism about NIR is associated with a higher probability of choosing HEV, iii prompting positively or negatively framed information about NIR discourages HEV choice compared to providing no information. Conclusions and policy recommendations The results show the effect of NIR-associated barriers on the choice of HEV versus ICE and highlight the following policy recommendations. First, the massive production of EVs combined with the lack of regulatory frameworks can lead to the introduction of low-cost car models with low NIR safety standards (Trentadue et al., 2020). The European Union recommends a clear regulatory framework and international standards to promote the transition toward EVs. This study showed that NIR levels negatively affect the choice of HEV, signaling to car manufacturers and policymakers that consumers are concerned about NIR levels. Accordingly, setting NIR safety standards and maintaining low NIR levels are important goals for the transition toward autonomous, connected, electric vehicles. Second, this study showed that while NIR dread was a discouraging factor, NIR skepticism was a strong choice motivator. Thus, perceived occurrence probability is as important as NIR risk dread. As with other health issues, prevalence across the population is an important decision-making factor that, in the absence of information, may lead to self-exemption beliefs. Scientific evidence from large-scale studies regarding both short- and long-term NIR effects and their prevalence in the population and among risk groups will enable informed decision-making, help mitigate NIR dread, and establish meaningful guidelines for in-vehicle NIR levels. With climate goals requiring the transition toward EV by 2030 and with the rapid technological advancement of autonomous, connected, electric vehicles, establishing the prevalence of NIR short- and long-term health effects is important for the future of the industry. Third, better information quality strengthens the relationship between the depiction of new vehicle technologies and perceived purchase value (Zhang et al., 2022). Our study showed that both positive and negative framing can lead to a lower choice probability when an NIR safety threshold is provided. In this study, the information that “Studies show that long-term exposure to NIR levels below 4 mG is safe” was associated with lower choice probabilities, similar to the case of negative framing, “Studies show that long-term exposure to NIR levels below 4 mG increases the health risks to health concerns.” Policymakers and manufacturers must consider information quality in terms of accuracy, clarity, ambiguity, and potential sources of confusion and decision bias. In this study, consumers used the provided threshold of 4 mG as a decision anchor, which means that consumers in some cultural contexts seek clear, “fast and frugal” evaluation criteria without engaging in complex exposure evaluations. Finally, the model shows that travel with children is negatively associated with HEV leasing. Nevertheless, while NIR dread is negatively associated with HEV leasing, an additional interaction effect between NIR levels and travel with children was not statistically significant. These results indicate that while NIR dread is important, there is no additional health concerns particularly asso- ciated with travel with children. Hence, the decrease in the HEV leasing propensity when traveling with children may be associated with other reasons, such as vehicle reliability or other concerns that were not investigated in the current study. Notably, previous studies found a particular concern for children’s health-related to NIR from mobile phones and cellular stations. Leach and Bromwich (2018) found that two-thirds of the participants believed that mobile technology use should be restricted due to possible health risks to children’s health. P ̈olzl (2011) added that 30 % of the population had strong or considerable concerns regarding NIR health risks to children, and noted that adults can be motivated to adjust their behavior to protect their children. Further research is important in other regions and contexts, to understand more thoroughly the issue of HEV leasing or purchase when traveling with children. sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using a stated choice experiment analyzed with a hybrid choice model, the study reports that NIR is associated with a lower probability of choosing HEVs. NIR-dread is associated with a higher probability of choosing ICE vehicles, while skepticism about NIR is associated with a higher probability of choosing HEVs. Providing either positively or negatively framed information about NIR (vs no information) discourages HEV choice, and a 4 mG threshold appears to act as a decision anchor.

Outcomes measured

• Consumer choice between hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles
• Effect of NIR information framing on HEV choice probability
• Associations of NIR dread and NIR skepticism with vehicle choice
• Association of travel with children with HEV leasing propensity

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• Population characteristics and setting not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• Exposure characterization is not specified beyond references to NIR levels and a 4 mG threshold; frequency/band and measurement details are not provided
• Stated choice experiment (hypothetical choices) rather than observed purchasing behavior

Suggested hubs

• policy (0.55)
  Includes policy recommendations on regulatory frameworks and safety standards for in-vehicle NIR levels.

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    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "hybrid electric vehicles (in-vehicle non-ionizing radiation)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Consumer choice between hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles",
        "Effect of NIR information framing on HEV choice probability",
        "Associations of NIR dread and NIR skepticism with vehicle choice",
        "Association of travel with children with HEV leasing propensity"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Using a stated choice experiment analyzed with a hybrid choice model, the study reports that NIR is associated with a lower probability of choosing HEVs. NIR-dread is associated with a higher probability of choosing ICE vehicles, while skepticism about NIR is associated with a higher probability of choosing HEVs. Providing either positively or negatively framed information about NIR (vs no information) discourages HEV choice, and a 4 mG threshold appears to act as a decision anchor.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "Population characteristics and setting not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "Exposure characterization is not specified beyond references to NIR levels and a 4 mG threshold; frequency/band and measurement details are not provided",
        "Stated choice experiment (hypothetical choices) rather than observed purchasing behavior"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "non-ionizing radiation",
        "NIR",
        "hybrid electric vehicles",
        "HEV",
        "internal combustion engine",
        "ICE",
        "stated choice experiment",
        "hybrid choice model",
        "risk perception",
        "information framing",
        "NIR dread",
        "NIR skepticism",
        "4 mG"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "policy",
            "weight": 0.5500000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
            "reason": "Includes policy recommendations on regulatory frameworks and safety standards for in-vehicle NIR levels."
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