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Energy Transition in Public Transport: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Diesel, Electric, and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses in Poland’s GZM Metropolis

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  • Grzegorz Krawczyk

    (Department of Transport, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Grzegorz Karoń

    (Department of Transport of Transport Systems, Traffic Engineering and Logistics, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland)

  • Tomasz Wojciech Szulc

    (Department of Logistics, Silesian University of Technology, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland)

Abstract

Energy transformation is one of the processes shaping contemporary urban transport systems, with public transport being the subject of initiatives designed to enhance its attractiveness and transport utility, including electromobility. This article presents a case study for a metropolitan conurbation—the GZM Metropolis in Poland—considering the economic efficiency of implementing buses with conventional diesel engines, electric buses (battery electric buses), and hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses. The analysis is based on the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) method using the discounted cash flow (DCF) method.

Suggested Citation

  • Grzegorz Krawczyk & Grzegorz Karoń & Tomasz Wojciech Szulc, 2025. "Energy Transition in Public Transport: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Diesel, Electric, and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses in Poland’s GZM Metropolis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:17:p:4658-:d:1740719
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Boud Verbrugge & Mohammed Mahedi Hasan & Haaris Rasool & Thomas Geury & Mohamed El Baghdadi & Omar Hegazy, 2021. "Smart Integration of Electric Buses in Cities: A Technological Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Panta, Utsav & Gairola, Pranav & Nezamuddin, N., 2024. "Modelling benefit-to-cost ratio for initial phase electrification using battery electric bus," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 137-149.
    3. Sheng, Mingyue Selena & Sreenivasan, Ajith Viswanath & Sharp, Basil & Du, Bo, 2021. "Well-to-wheel analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption for electric vehicles: A comparative study in Oceania," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Grzegorz Karoń, 2022. "Energy in Smart Urban Transportation with Systemic Use of Electric Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-5, August.
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