Behavior matters: A systematic review of representing consumer mobility choices in energy models. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luh, Sandro; Kannan, Ramachandran; Schmidt, Thomas J.; Kober, Tom
• Is Part Of: Energy research & social science. Volume 90(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: ABM Agent-Based Model -- BEV Battery Electric Vehicles -- CES Constant Elasticities of Substitution -- CGE Computable General Equilibrium -- DEEM Direct Energy and Emission Model -- E3 Energy-Economic-Environment -- ESM Energy System Model -- EV Electric Vehicle -- IAM Integrated Assessment Model -- LCEIM Life Cycle and Environmental Impact Model -- MaaS Mobility as a Service -- MARKAL MARKet ALlocation model -- MNL Multinomial-logit -- PHEV Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles -- PTT-MAM Powertrain Technology Transition Market Agent Model -- SD System Dynamics -- STEM Swiss TIMES Energy systems Model -- STET Socio-Technical Energy Transition -- TTB Travel Time Budget -- UKTCM United Kingdom Transport Carbon Model; Model coupling -- Energy system models -- Consumer behavior -- Mobility -- Transportation -- Social science; Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102596
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-6296

Abstract

Abstract: Consumer behavior is gaining increased attention for climate mitigation efforts, especially in the transportation sector. Thus, representing consumer mobility behavior in energy models is being strengthened to simulate realistic future vehicle and mode choices. This work focuses on two widespread concepts that modelers apply: (1) endogenous integration of mobility behavior in standalone energy models and (2) coupling complementary models to reflect behavioral dimensions through data exchange. This systematic review conducted four steps leading to 44 publications that apply such concepts to target consumer mobility behavior. First, we summarize the methodological approaches for each concept by describing the trends in implementing mobility behavior in models. Second, we discuss the challenges, limitations, and opportunities of both concepts to compare their values. We find that endogenously representing mobility behavior in energy system models offers simplicity and complements their techno-economic perspective. However, this concept faces methodological limitations when translating behavioral attributes into monetary values. Model coupling can combine different perspectives on the transport and energy system but adds computational and methodological complexity. We conclude that standalone models are favorable for representing stylized parameters of consumer behavior, such as travel time and money budgets and electric charging infrastructure accessibility that can be generalized for consumer groups. Model coupling becomes superior when the impacts on the energy system of multifaceted mobility behaviors, such as preferences of individual consumers and actors of the transport system, are assessed in more detail. Nonetheless, both concepts should be viewed as complementary to overcome their limitations while merging their strengths. Highlights: Systematic literature study on methods to represent mobility behavior in energy models Endogenous integration measures and model coupling approaches are reviewed Limitations, challenges, and opportunities for both concepts are discussed Endogenous integration is favorable for representing light forms of stylized parameters Model coupling becomes superior when assessing more multifaceted mobility behaviors Both concepts should be viewed as complementary to merge their strengths