Battery-electric buses and their implementation barriers: Analysis and prospects for sustainability

• Published in: Sustainable energy technologies and assessments 2022-06, Vol.51, p.101896, Article 101896
• Main Authors: Rodrigues, Alyson L.P., Seixas, Sonia. R.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Battery-electric buses (BEBs); Casual loop diagram (CLD); Global adoption; Sustainable urban transport
• ISSN: 2213-1388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seta.2021.101896

[Display omitted] Globally, many cities are seeking to meet their greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets in urban transport systems. Several strategies have been proposed for this sector, such as battery-electric buses (BEBs), and today numerous companies and cities are transitioning to greener bus fleets. However, the global adoption of electric buses is limited in large scale due to some implementation barriers. This analysis focuses on scholarly research and reports that present case studies, interviews with the interested parties and preliminary results of BEBs implementation for public transport. A casual loop diagram (CLD) and an analysis of the dimensions of sustainability were developed pointing out implications for behavioral patterns. The discussion here addresses general barriers (technological, financial and institutional), impacts on the power grid, energy consumption, fleet operation, fire safety and people’s willingness to pay, and summarizes the experiences and lessons learned from real-world implementation. The article’s most significant recommendations for the successful use of BEBs in cities are new protocols to facilitate financing and contracting, support for institutional innovation policies and the construction of facilities. The findings are useful to both researchers and policymakers.