Solar powered tricycles in Maiduguri: exploring sustainable urban mobility through contingent valuation method

Abstract

In the quest to enhance sustainable urban transportation systems, this research explores tricycle owners' willingness to invest in solar-powered motorised tricycles (SPT) within Maiduguri Metropolis. Through a comprehensive examination of willingness to pay (WTP) determinants, including economic, demographic, and contextual factors, this study sheds light on the intricate dynamics that shape tricycle operators' attitudes toward cleaner and more sustainable mobility alternatives. This study employed primary data collection techniques, utilising a questionnaire aligned with the research objectives to gather information. The focus was on all tricycle owners in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, selected through simple random sampling. To establish an adequate sample size conducive to obtaining a willingness-to-pay value close to the true value, the formula advocated by Mitchel and Carson (1989) was applied which led to a sample size of 385. The bidding game method was based on the contingent valuation method. Socioeconomic attributes of tricycle owners were extracted using descriptive statistics, encompassing frequency distribution, percentage, and mean. Alongside, the Probit model was employed to evaluate the economic value associated with willingness to pay for SPT and analyse the influencing factors. The findings revealed the diverse economic landscape within the tricycle business, with a significant proportion of operators, approximately 47.2 per cent, earning daily incomes between N2000 and N4000, paralleled by 55.5 per cent having monthly incomes in the N100,000 to N299,000 range. When fuel is scarce, 66.1 per cent of tricycle owners buy fuel for N500 to N700 per litre compared to the N198 official price rate, indicating financial struggles during fuel price fluctuations. The results revealed that gender, age, and affiliation were identified as influential factors that determined the willingness to pay. The findings also revealed that tricycle owners were willing to pay N1,689,557 to reflect a substantial commitment to eco-friendly urban transport. This study recommends that Municipal authorities consider formulating and implementing policies that incentivise the adoption of solar-powered tricycles.