Abstract:

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method was used in this study to examine how electrifying the urban bus fleet will affect the environment. Public bus transportation is one of the primary sources of pollution in major urban agglomerations. The electrification of the bus fleet is one of the possible methods for lowering pollution production. The authors developed three models of buses with different power units: diesel bus, diesel hybrid bus, and electric bus. The impact of model buses was analyzed at the stage of their production and operation in the city, as well as the impact of diesel fuel and electricity production. In addition, a case study illustrating three potential outcomes for the electrification of the urban bus fleet was carried out using Krakow, Poland, as an example. Additionally, a study of the environmental effects of Poland's national energy production system up until 2040 was carried out. Using the IMPACT 2002+ Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) method, the results were reported in four damage endpoint categories, i.e., human health, ecosystem quality, climate change, and resources. It was shown that increasing the share of electric buses in urban fleets can be highly beneficial in all four categories if the electricity used to power the electric buses is produced from enough low- and zero-emission energy sources. In addition, the level of environmental burden generated by the different phases of the life cycle of the bus was characterized. Overall, the advantages and possible problems of urban bus fleet electrification were highlighted, and recommendations for future sustainable development strategies were suggested.