Elucidating the Feasibility Assessment of Hybrid Two-wheelers Using Quality Function Deployment Public Opinion Survey for Maharashtra State, India

Traveling by a two-wheeler has a significant share of commute and non-commute trips, especially in developing and emerging countries. However, with the rising fuel prices and stringent environmental norms, feasibility of conventional two-wheelers needs to be contemplated. As a potential alternative, electric two-wheelers and hybrids/retrofitted are observed as credible travel mode shifts. Intuitively, hybrid or retrofitted are assumed to gain leveraged benefits of both conventional and electric two-wheelers. However, the intrusion of these two-wheelers will sprout out associated concerns, which need to be mitigated with the help of public (consumer) opinion. In this study, a survey of hybrid electric two-wheelers is conducted to examine people’s mindset and the necessity of hybrid electric two-wheelers in today’s market. The hybrid technology can be used on two-wheelers in two different ways: first, it can be retrofitted, and second, it can be fitted to a brand-new two-wheeler. According to the survey results, more than 60% of respondents are more interested in brand-new hybrid electric two-wheelers than in two-wheelers that can be retrofitted. This study explores the different factors that influence people’s decisions about modern hybrid electric two-wheelers as well as their specific opinions about this emerging transport mode shift.