IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i13p4858-d1176540.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Study on the Viability of Adopting Battery Electric Vehicles in Bus Rapid Transit in Brazil Using the AHP Method

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriel Santos Rodrigues

    (RESUP-Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212-4fl, São Paulo 04026002, Brazil)

  • João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis

    (RESUP-Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212-4fl, São Paulo 04026002, Brazil
    Social and Applied Sciences Center, Mackenzie Presbyterian University—MPU, São Paulo 01302907, Brazil)

  • Olga Orynycz

    (Department of Production Management, Faculty of Engineering Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska Street 45A, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland)

  • Karol Tucki

    (Department of Production Engineering, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska Street 164, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Sivanilza Teixeira Machado

    (NAPOLE Research Group, Federal Institute of Sao Paulo, Av. Mogi das Cruzes 1501, Suzano 08673010, Brazil)

  • Helcio Raymundo

    (RESUP-Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212-4fl, São Paulo 04026002, Brazil)

Abstract

Public transport is essential to provide urban mobility, and cities need to offer a fast, comfortable, secure, and low-pollutant public transport mode to attract passengers and reduce private car use. Despite metros, trains, and light rail systems being desirable, the cost of implementation and low flexibility make bus services the best option for many cities. One solution for improving bus service systems is the implementation of bus rapid transit systems that are composed of buses running in segregated lines with pre-payment fares and level boarding platforms in stations. However, the main challenge of bus systems is the use of engines fueled by diesel, which is extremely polluted. One possible solution is the use of battery buses; but are they really feasible regarding daily operation cost? In this paper, we investigate the adoption of battery buses in comparison to diesel engines in a BRT system using municipal data from São Paulo, Brazil, as a reference. We collected operational data from the Sao Paulo city government transport agency and data from the literature to produce an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model, which allowed us to compare both systems. The AHP model considered a triple-bottom-line perspective using social, economic, and environmental impact criteria. The result showed that the initial costs of acquisition can be a barrier, but in the long run, cities adopting battery buses in their BRT system can benefit from the effects of reduction in gas emissions and longer lifetimes of electric bus components. Moreover, the results showed that the adoption of battery buses in BRT systems depends on local government subsidies being implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Santos Rodrigues & João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis & Olga Orynycz & Karol Tucki & Sivanilza Teixeira Machado & Helcio Raymundo, 2023. "A Study on the Viability of Adopting Battery Electric Vehicles in Bus Rapid Transit in Brazil Using the AHP Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:4858-:d:1176540
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4858/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/13/4858/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kębłowski, Wojciech & Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Boussauw, Kobe, 2022. "Moving past sustainable transport studies: Towards a critical perspective on urban transport," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 74-83.
    2. Lindau, Luis Antonio & Senna, Luiz Afonso dos Santos & Strambi, Orlando & Martins, Wagner Colombini, 2008. "Alternative financing for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): The case of Porto Alegre, Brazil," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 54-60, January.
    3. Karol Tucki & Olga Orynycz & Andrzej Wasiak & Antoni Świć & Remigiusz Mruk & Katarzyna Botwińska, 2020. "Estimation of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from a Diesel Engine Powered by Lignocellulose Derived Fuel for Better Management of Fuel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-29, January.
    4. Krelling, Christian & Badami, Madhav G., 2016. "Operational and financial performance of Delhi's natural gas-fueled public bus transit fleet: A critical evaluation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 178-188.
    5. Maciej Dzikuć & Rafał Miśko & Szymon Szufa, 2021. "Modernization of the Public Transport Bus Fleet in the Context of Low-Carbon Development in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-12, June.
    6. Shyr, Oliver F. & Andersson, David Emanuel & Cheng, Yu-Hsuan & Hsiao, Yu-Hsuan, 2017. "What explains rapid transit use? Evidence from 97 urbanized areas," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 162-169.
    7. Fernanda Alves de Araújo & João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis & Marcia Terra da Silva & Emel Aktas, 2022. "A Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process Model to Evaluate Logistics Service Expectations and Delivery Methods in Last-Mile Delivery in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    8. Hidalgo, Darío & Gutiérrez, Luis, 2013. "BRT and BHLS around the world: Explosive growth, large positive impacts and many issues outstanding," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 8-13.
    9. Wojciech Keblowski & Frédéric Dobruszkes & Kobe Boussauw, 2022. "Moving past sustainable transport studies: Towards a critical perspective on urban transport," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/341191, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    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. Preeti Devi & Bartłomiej Kizielewicz & Abhishek Guleria & Andrii Shekhovtsov & Jarosław Wątróbski & Tomasz Królikowski & Jakub Więckowski & Wojciech Sałabun, 2022. "Decision Support in Selecting a Reliable Strategy for Sustainable Urban Transport Based on Laplacian Energy of T -Spherical Fuzzy Graphs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Wojciech Kębłowski, 2023. "Degrowth is coming to town: What can it learn from critical perspectives on urban transport?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(7), pages 1249-1265, May.
    3. 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.
    4. Gomez, Luis F. & Sarmiento, Rodrigo & Ordoñez, Maria Fernanda & Pardo, Carlos Felipe & de Sá, Thiago Hérick & Mallarino, Christina H. & Miranda, J. Jaime & Mosquera, Janeth & Parra, Diana C. & Reis, R, 2015. "Urban environment interventions linked to the promotion of physical activity: A mixed methods study applied to the urban context of Latin America," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 18-30.
    5. Kinga Stecuła & Piotr Olczak & Paweł Kamiński & Dominika Matuszewska & Hai Duong Duc, 2022. "Towards Sustainable Transport: Techno-Economic Analysis of Investing in Hydrogen Buses in Public Transport in the Selected City of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Ojeda Diaz, Alfredo J. & Cantillo, Víctor & Arellana, Julián, 2023. "Understanding how individuals perceive changes in the built environment and the transport system after implementing a BRT system. The case of Barranquilla, Colombia," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    7. Jaime Bonet-Morón & Lucas Wilfried Hahn-De-Castro, 2020. "La gestión y operación del Sistema Integrado de Transporte Masivo (SITM) de Cartagena: el rol dual de Transcaribe," Documentos de Trabajo Sobre Economía Regional y Urbana 18105, Banco de la República, Economía Regional.
    8. Fadaei, Masoud & Cats, Oded, 2016. "Evaluating the impacts and benefits of public transport design and operational measures," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 105-116.
    9. 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.
    10. Jerry Zhirong Zhao & Shengnan Lou & Camila Fonseca & Richard Feiock & Ruowen Shen, 2021. "Explaining transit expenses in US urbanised areas: Urban scale, spatial form and fiscal capacity," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(2), pages 280-296, February.
    11. Rizvi, Andrea & Sclar, Elliott, 2014. "Implementing bus rapid transit: A tale of two Indian cities," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 194-204.
    12. Paget-Seekins, Laurel, 2015. "Bus rapid transit as a neoliberal contradiction," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 115-120.
    13. Demeulenaere, Xavier, 2019. "The use of automotive fleets to support the diffusion of Alternative Fuel Vehicles: A Rapid Evidence Assessment of barriers and decision mechanisms," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    14. Soza-Parra, Jaime & Raveau, Sebastián & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Cats, Oded, 2019. "The underlying effect of public transport reliability on users’ satisfaction," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 83-93.
    15. Guzman, Luis A. & Oviedo, Daniel, 2018. "Accessibility, affordability and equity: Assessing ‘pro-poor’ public transport subsidies in Bogotá," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 37-51.
    16. Currie, Graham & Delbosc, Alexa, 2014. "Assessing Bus Rapid Transit system performance in Australasia," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 142-151.
    17. Karolina Godzisz & Maciej Dzikuć & Piotr Kułyk & Arkadiusz Piwowar & Piotr Kuryło & Szymon Szufa, 2021. "Selected Determinants of Sustainable Transport in the Context of the Development of a Low-Carbon Economy in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.
    18. Tomasz Zema & Adam Sulich & Sebastian Grzesiak, 2022. "Charging Stations and Electromobility Development: A Cross-Country Comparative Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
    19. Tobias Pfutze & Carlos Rodríguez-Castelán & Daniel Valderrama, 2023. "Urban transport infrastructure and household welfare: evidence from Colombia," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(3), pages 1409-1432, September.
    20. Krelling, Christian & Badami, Madhav G., 2022. "Cost-effectiveness analysis of compressed natural gas implementation in the public bus transit fleet in Delhi, India," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 49-61.

    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:16:y:2023:i:13:p:4858-:d:1176540. 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.