IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i12p4286-d836469.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Public Transport Decarbonization via Urban Bus Fleet Replacement in Portugal

Author

Listed:
  • Paulo J. G. Ribeiro

    (Centre for Territory Environment and Construction, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal)

  • José F. G. Mendes

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal)

Abstract

The transport sector accounts for around one-quarter of the GHG emissions in Europe, and, in Portugal, it represents almost one-third of the total emissions to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, these emissions have increased in recent years. Hence, cities and countries need plans to decarbonize their public transport fleets, and, more specifically, to replace fossil-fueled buses with electric buses that produce zero CO 2 emissions. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to present a method to decarbonize the bus fleet in Portugal by a scheduled replacement of the current fleet, which is fueled by fossil fuels, with a completely electric fleet, in fourteen years. The study shows that it is possible to replace all Portuguese urban bus fleets with electric vehicles considering that all vehicles will be replaced when reaching the age of 14 years. Replacing the urban bus fleet with zero-emission buses would aid policymakers and bus companies to reduce the GHGs, and therefore contribute to fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely, Goal 13—take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Paulo J. G. Ribeiro & José F. G. Mendes, 2022. "Public Transport Decarbonization via Urban Bus Fleet Replacement in Portugal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:12:p:4286-:d:836469
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/12/4286/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/12/4286/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna Brdulak & Grażyna Chaberek & Jacek Jagodziński, 2020. "Development Forecasts for the Zero-Emission Bus Fleet in Servicing Public Transport in Chosen EU Member Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Holland, Stephen P. & Mansur, Erin T. & Muller, Nicholas Z. & Yates, Andrew J., 2021. "The environmental benefits of transportation electrification: Urban buses," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).
    3. Olabi, A.G. & Obaideen, Khaled & Elsaid, Khaled & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Sayed, Enas Taha & Maghrabie, Hussein M. & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali, 2022. "Assessment of the pre-combustion carbon capture contribution into sustainable development goals SDGs using novel indicators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    4. Bogdan Ovidiu Varga & Florin Mariasiu & Cristian Daniel Miclea & Ioan Szabo & Anamaria Andreea Sirca & Vlad Nicolae, 2020. "Direct and Indirect Environmental Aspects of an Electric Bus Fleet Under Service," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Hanhee Kim & Niklas Hartmann & Maxime Zeller & Renato Luise & Tamer Soylu, 2021. "Comparative TCO Analysis of Battery Electric and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses for Public Transport System in Small to Midsize Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-31, July.
    6. Lajunen, Antti & Lipman, Timothy, 2016. "Lifecycle cost assessment and carbon dioxide emissions of diesel, natural gas, hybrid electric, fuel cell hybrid and electric transit buses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 329-342.
    7. Li, Xiangyi & Castellanos, Sebastian & Maassen, Anne, 2018. "Emerging trends and innovations for electric bus adoption—a comparative case study of contracting and financing of 22 cities in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 470-481.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Manzolli, Jônatas Augusto & Trovão, João Pedro & Antunes, Carlos Henggeler, 2022. "A review of electric bus vehicles research topics – Methods and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    2. Paulo J. G. Ribeiro & José F. G. Mendes, 2022. "Towards Zero CO 2 Emissions from Public Transport: The Pathway to the Decarbonization of the Portuguese Urban Bus Fleet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Say, Kelvin & Csereklyei, Zsuzsanna & Brown, Felix Gabriel & Wang, Changlong, 2023. "The economics of public transport electrification: A case study from Victoria, Australia," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    4. Say, Kelvin & Brown, Felix Gabriel & Csereklyei, Zsuzsanna, 2024. "The economics of public transport electrification: When does infrastructure investment matter?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 360(C).
    5. Alberto Romero-Ania & Lourdes Rivero Gutiérrez & María Auxiliadora De Vicente Oliva, 2021. "Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis of Sustainable Urban Public Transport Systems," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(16), pages 1-30, August.
    6. Xinkuo Xu & Xiaofeng Lv & Liyan Han, 2019. "Carbon Asset of Electrification: Valuing the Transition from Fossil Fuel-Powered Buses to Battery Electric Buses in Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, May.
    7. Ali Saadon Al-Ogaili & Ali Q. Al-Shetwi & Hussein M. K. Al-Masri & Thanikanti Sudhakar Babu & Yap Hoon & Khaled Alzaareer & N. V. Phanendra Babu, 2021. "Review of the Estimation Methods of Energy Consumption for Battery Electric Buses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-28, November.
    8. Hanhee Kim & Niklas Hartmann & Maxime Zeller & Renato Luise & Tamer Soylu, 2021. "Comparative TCO Analysis of Battery Electric and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses for Public Transport System in Small to Midsize Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-31, July.
    9. Krzysztof KRAWIEC, 2021. "Vehicle Cycle Hierarchization Model To Determine The Order Of Battery Electric Bus Deployment In Public Transport," Transport Problems, Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Transport, vol. 16(1), pages 99-112, March.
    10. Avenali, Alessandro & Catalano, Giuseppe & Giagnorio, Mirko & Matteucci, Giorgio, 2024. "Factors influencing the adoption of zero-emission buses: A review-based framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    11. Ji-Hee Son & Jeawon Kim & Wona Lee & Songhee Han, 2022. "Willingness to Pay for the Public Electric Bus in Nepal: A Contingent Valuation Method Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Xinkuo Xu & Liyan Han, 2020. "Operational Lifecycle Carbon Value of Bus Electrification in Macau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
    13. Lee, Dong-Yeon & Elgowainy, Amgad & Vijayagopal, Ram, 2019. "Well-to-wheel environmental implications of fuel economy targets for hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 565-583.
    14. Thorne, Rebecca Jayne & Hovi, Inger Beate & Figenbaum, Erik & Pinchasik, Daniel Ruben & Amundsen, Astrid Helene & Hagman, Rolf, 2021. "Facilitating adoption of electric buses through policy: Learnings from a trial in Norway," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    15. Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad & Rasoulinezhad, Ehsan & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Vinh Vo, Xuan, 2021. "How energy transition and power consumption are related in Asian economies with different income levels?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    16. Nan, Sirui & Tu, Ran & Li, Tiezhu & Sun, Jian & Chen, Haibo, 2022. "From driving behavior to energy consumption: A novel method to predict the energy consumption of electric bus," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PA).
    17. Alves, Luís & Pereira, Vítor & Lagarteira, Tiago & Mendes, Adélio, 2021. "Catalytic methane decomposition to boost the energy transition: Scientific and technological advancements," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    18. Qusay Abu-Afifeh & Michel Rahbeh & Aya Al-Afeshat & Saif Al-Omari & Tala Amer Qutishat & Ali Brezat & Ali Alkayed, 2023. "Dam Sustainability’s Interdependency with Climate Change and Dam Failure Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.
    19. Ahmed M. Nassef & Ahmed Handam, 2022. "Parameter Estimation-Based Slime Mold Algorithm of Photocatalytic Methane Reforming Process for Hydrogen Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, March.
    20. Sofia Dahlgren & Jonas Ammenberg, 2021. "Sustainability Assessment of Public Transport, Part II—Applying a Multi-Criteria Assessment Method to Compare Different Bus Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-30, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:12:p:4286-:d:836469. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.