Preference for other technologies. In order to understand the preference for FCHs applications compared to other heat and elec- tricity systems, we asked respondents to rate a set of alternative technologies (solar thermal, biomass boilers, ground source heat pumps, electric heat pumps and gas boilers) as a worse, about the same or a better option than FCHs. The data show that respondents generally express a preference for FCHs relative to more tradi- tional technologies such as gas boilers but also a preference for renewable systems, specifically for solar thermal, relative to fuel cell units. As shown in the figure below, respondents in the whole sample report a preference for FCHs relative to gas boilers (ratio of those who consider it a better option versus those who consider it a worse option of 0.31) and electric heat pumps (ratio of 0.82). Biomass boilers are equally preferred by participants (ratio of 1). On the other hand, ground source heat pumps (ratio of 2.6) and solar thermal (ratio of 5.38) are preferred options, relative to micro FCHs. It is important to outline, however, that the percentage of re- spondents that do not have a clear opinion on this (don’t know option) is significant (from 17% for the comparison between solar and FCHs to 32% for the comparison with biomass) (Figure 19). Solar thermal Biomass boilers Ground source heat pumps Electric heat pumps Worse option About the same Better option Don't know Gas boilers 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Preference for other technologies. In order to understand the preference for FCHs cars compared to other type of cars, respond- ents were asked to rate a set of alternative technologies as a worse, about the same or a better option than FCEVs. As shown in figure 43, respondents generally express a preference for FCHs over conventional cars (the ratio of those who consider it a better option versus those who consider it a worse option is 0.45) and compressed or liquefied natural gas cars (ratio of 0.76). Full electric cars (ratio of 1.57) and hybrid cars (ratio of 1.95) are preferred options compared to hydrogen cars. The percentage of respondents that do not have a clear opinion on this (don’t know option) is around 10%, standing out the 23% for the comparison between natural gas cars (CNG – LNG) and FCEVs. CNG or LNG Full electric cars Hybrid cars a less positive option about the same a more positive option I don’t know Conventional cars 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Figure 44. Evaluation of alternative technologies as compared to FCEVs (as % of respondents that consider the alternatives a worse, about the same or a better option) There are significant differences across countries in their preference for alternative cars. So, alt- xxxxx in all of the countries FCEVs are preferred over conventional cars (conventional cars are rated as a less preferred option), the average of the preference varies among the countries. Re- spondents in France and Spain have the highest preference for hybrid cars over FCEVs (39% and 35% respectively). In Norway and Slovenia, respondents have the highest preference for full electric vehicles over FCEVs. The details for the seven studied countries can be seen in the figure below which shows the rate of those preferring FCEV in comparison to other alternatives. Ger- many is the only country where the percentage of respondents that consider electric cars a worse option than FCHE cars is higher than the percentage that considers electric car a better option (Figure 44). United Kingdom Spain Slovenia Norway Germany France Belgium 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% CNF / LNG Full electric Hybrid cars Conventional cars
