Abstract:

Imagining the world in 2030 can be a dangerous thing. But it can also help us plot how to achieve the net-zero carbon world we need to survive. Large-scale electrification is a necessary step down this road, and bus fleets are an opportunity to make an outsized impact on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in dense urban environments. One way to do this is demonstrated by cities like Shenzhen, which have been ambitious and aggressive, adopting large-scale fleets with the help of multiple incentives. Most cities have been holding back, making no immediate plans and no progress toward integrating electric buses into their existing, largely fossil-fuel-based fleets. Electric buses (e-buses) have zero tailpipe emissions and lower operational costs, can help cities address local noise and air quality issues, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions when the grid is clean enough. This report is based on lessons learned from 16 cities that are working toward electrifying their bus transit fleets. it provides background information on e-buses and offers a planning and implementation framework for cities with varying levels of experience in e-bus adoption.