Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil
Several cities worldwide are studying the replacement of their trolleybus systems with diesel buses or battery electric buses, due to their flexibility and lower operational costs. Diesel buses are considered a major cause of gas emissions in cities, while battery electric buses employ cutting-edge...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/6/1377 |
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author | Gabriel Santos Rodrigues João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis Olga Orynycz Karol Tucki Jonas Matijošius Sivanilza Teixeira Machado |
author_facet | Gabriel Santos Rodrigues João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis Olga Orynycz Karol Tucki Jonas Matijošius Sivanilza Teixeira Machado |
author_sort | Gabriel Santos Rodrigues |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Several cities worldwide are studying the replacement of their trolleybus systems with diesel buses or battery electric buses, due to their flexibility and lower operational costs. Diesel buses are considered a major cause of gas emissions in cities, while battery electric buses employ cutting-edge technology, but there is still discussion around the topic due to their technology costs, autonomy, and the sustainability of battery packs. In this study, we evaluated the trolleybus system’s potential for reducing emissions, noise pollution, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) when compared to diesel buses. Furthermore, we compared the trolleybus system with battery electric buses in terms of cost and environmental benefits. To do so, a case study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in Latin America, which operates the second-highest trolleybus system on the American continent. Our results show that the trolleybus system is a feasible alternative to diesel buses when considering environmental aspects. It can be seen as a complementary service for urban transport systems in the city’s transition to clean energy. Finally, the study implications indicate the need for further investigation of the benefits of in-motion-charge technology to generate flexibility in trolleybus systems, and the involvement of stakeholders in the transition matrix energy process in urban bus systems beyond the direct costs. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-a932fc5476ca413d9c9abb43fb41bc64 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1996-1073 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:21:33Z |
publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Energies |
spelling | doaj.art-a932fc5476ca413d9c9abb43fb41bc642024-03-27T13:35:35ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-03-01176137710.3390/en17061377Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, BrazilGabriel Santos Rodrigues0João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis1Olga Orynycz2Karol Tucki3Jonas Matijošius4Sivanilza Teixeira Machado5RESUP-Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212-4fl, São Paulo 04026-002, BrazilRESUP-Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212-4fl, São Paulo 04026-002, BrazilDepartment of Production Management, Faculty of Engineering Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska Street 45A, 15-351 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of Production Engineering, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska Street 164, 02-787 Warsaw, PolandMechanic Science Institute, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės Str. 25, LT-10105 Vilnius, LithuaniaNAPOLE Research Group, Federal Institute of São Paulo, Av. Mogi das Cruzes 1501, Suzano 08673-010, BrazilSeveral cities worldwide are studying the replacement of their trolleybus systems with diesel buses or battery electric buses, due to their flexibility and lower operational costs. Diesel buses are considered a major cause of gas emissions in cities, while battery electric buses employ cutting-edge technology, but there is still discussion around the topic due to their technology costs, autonomy, and the sustainability of battery packs. In this study, we evaluated the trolleybus system’s potential for reducing emissions, noise pollution, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) when compared to diesel buses. Furthermore, we compared the trolleybus system with battery electric buses in terms of cost and environmental benefits. To do so, a case study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in Latin America, which operates the second-highest trolleybus system on the American continent. Our results show that the trolleybus system is a feasible alternative to diesel buses when considering environmental aspects. It can be seen as a complementary service for urban transport systems in the city’s transition to clean energy. Finally, the study implications indicate the need for further investigation of the benefits of in-motion-charge technology to generate flexibility in trolleybus systems, and the involvement of stakeholders in the transition matrix energy process in urban bus systems beyond the direct costs.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/6/1377trolleybuselectric energyurban transport systemtransport analysissustainable cities |
spellingShingle | Gabriel Santos Rodrigues João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis Olga Orynycz Karol Tucki Jonas Matijošius Sivanilza Teixeira Machado Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil Energies trolleybus electric energy urban transport system transport analysis sustainable cities |
title | Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil |
title_full | Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil |
title_fullStr | Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil |
title_full_unstemmed | Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil |
title_short | Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil |
title_sort | environmental impact reduction of a trolleybus system in the city of sao paulo brazil |
topic | trolleybus electric energy urban transport system transport analysis sustainable cities |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/6/1377 |
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