The determination of success factors in European demonstration projects for new propulsion systems and transport concepts

Based on collected data of 45 European demonstration projects for new propu lsion systems and transport concepts within the project urban transport opt ions for propulsion systems and instruments for analysis (UTOPIA), an analy sis is performed with regard to factors that can be related to the success of these demonstration projects. Success rates are distinguished with respe ct to technical, economic, mobility and environmental aspects, and with res pect to specific project objectives. Correlation between project characteri stics and success items are used to formulate hypotheses, which are tested in a multivariate Logit analysis. The results show that the success of demo nstration projects for new propulsion systems and transport concepts is pos itively affected by the use of more developed technologies, the use of tran sport modes that are independent of transport chains, using them at short d istances, involving manufacturers as partners within the project and by a l ack of governmental, political and environmental barriers for the introduct ion of the demonstrated new transport concepts. In addition the results sho w a trade-off between environmental and technical success. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science Ltd.. All rights reserved.