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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Main Authors: Gabriel Santos Rodrigues, João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis, Olga Orynycz, Karol Tucki, Jonas Matijošius, Sivanilza Teixeira Machado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
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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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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