Electric and hydrogen buses: Shifting from conventionally fuelled cars in the UK

Kathryn G Logan; John D Nelson; Astley Hastings

doi:10.1016/j.trd.2020.102350

Electric and hydrogen buses: Shifting from conventionally fuelled cars in the UK

Kathryn G Logan^*, John D Nelson, Astley Hastings

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

For the UK to meet their national target of net zero emissions as part of the central Paris Agreement target, further emphasis needs to be placed on decarbonizing public transport and moving away from personal transport (conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)). Electric buses (EBs) and hydrogen buses (HBs) have the potential to fulfil requirements if powered from low carbon renewable energy sources.

A comparison of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced from conventionally fuelled buses (CFB), EBs and HBs between 2017 and 2050 under four National Grid electricity scenarios was conducted. In addition, emissions per person at different vehicle capacity levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) were projected for CFBs, HBs, EBs and personal transport assuming a maximum of 80 passengers per bus and four per personal vehicle.

Results indicated that CFVs produced 30 gCO2 km−1 per person compared to 16.3 gCO2 km−1 per person by CFBs by 2050. At 100% capacity, under the two-degree scenario, CFB emissions were 36 times higher than EBs, 9 times higher than HBs and 12 times higher than EVs in 2050. Cumulative emissions under all electricity scenarios remained lower for EBs and HBs.

Policy makers need to focus on encouraging a modal shift from personal transport towards sustainable public transport, primarily EBs as the lowest level emitting vehicle type. Simple electrification of personal vehicles will not meet the required targets. Simultaneously, CFBs need to be replaced with EBs and HBs if the UK is going to meet emission targets.

Original language	English
Article number	102350
Number of pages	18
Journal	Transportation Research Part D
Volume	85
Early online date	22 May 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102350
Publication status	Published - Aug 2020

Bibliographical note

This research was carried out under the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) as part of the ADdressing Valuation of Energy and Nature Together (ADVENT) funded project. Funding was received from the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/M019691/1), United Kingdom and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom.

The authors would also like to thank Dr Christian Brand, University of Oxford, for giving them access to the Transport Energy and Air Pollution Model UK (TEAM - UK).

Keywords

buses
electric buses
hydrogen buses
carbon dioxide emissions
LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Carbon dioxide emissions
PERFORMANCE
Hydrogen buses
ATTITUDES
NATURAL-GAS
VEHICLES
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Buses
Electric buses
GENERATION
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
HYBRID
RESOURCE

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

@article{4d2512c9209042328bb1f199cfd6bd05,

title = "Electric and hydrogen buses: Shifting from conventionally fuelled cars in the UK ",

abstract = "For the UK to meet their national target of net zero emissions as part of the central Paris Agreement target, further emphasis needs to be placed on decarbonizing public transport and moving away from personal transport (conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)). Electric buses (EBs) and hydrogen buses (HBs) have the potential to fulfil requirements if powered from low carbon renewable energy sources.A comparison of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced from conventionally fuelled buses (CFB), EBs and HBs between 2017 and 2050 under four National Grid electricity scenarios was conducted. In addition, emissions per person at different vehicle capacity levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) were projected for CFBs, HBs, EBs and personal transport assuming a maximum of 80 passengers per bus and four per personal vehicle.Results indicated that CFVs produced 30 gCO2 km−1 per person compared to 16.3 gCO2 km−1 per person by CFBs by 2050. At 100% capacity, under the two-degree scenario, CFB emissions were 36 times higher than EBs, 9 times higher than HBs and 12 times higher than EVs in 2050. Cumulative emissions under all electricity scenarios remained lower for EBs and HBs.Policy makers need to focus on encouraging a modal shift from personal transport towards sustainable public transport, primarily EBs as the lowest level emitting vehicle type. Simple electrification of personal vehicles will not meet the required targets. Simultaneously, CFBs need to be replaced with EBs and HBs if the UK is going to meet emission targets.",

keywords = "buses, electric buses, hydrogen buses, carbon dioxide emissions, LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT, Carbon dioxide emissions, PERFORMANCE, Hydrogen buses, ATTITUDES, NATURAL-GAS, VEHICLES, RENEWABLE ENERGY, Buses, Electric buses, GENERATION, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, HYBRID, RESOURCE",

author = "Logan, {Kathryn G} and Nelson, {John D} and Astley Hastings",

note = "This research was carried out under the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) as part of the ADdressing Valuation of Energy and Nature Together (ADVENT) funded project. Funding was received from the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/M019691/1), United Kingdom and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. The authors would also like to thank Dr Christian Brand, University of Oxford, for giving them access to the Transport Energy and Air Pollution Model UK (TEAM - UK).",

year = "2020",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.trd.2020.102350",

language = "English",

volume = "85",

journal = "Transportation Research Part D",

issn = "1361-9209",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Electric and hydrogen buses

T2 - Shifting from conventionally fuelled cars in the UK

AU - Logan, Kathryn G

AU - Nelson, John D

AU - Hastings, Astley

N1 - This research was carried out under the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) as part of the ADdressing Valuation of Energy and Nature Together (ADVENT) funded project. Funding was received from the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/M019691/1), United Kingdom and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. The authors would also like to thank Dr Christian Brand, University of Oxford, for giving them access to the Transport Energy and Air Pollution Model UK (TEAM - UK).

PY - 2020/8

Y1 - 2020/8

N2 - For the UK to meet their national target of net zero emissions as part of the central Paris Agreement target, further emphasis needs to be placed on decarbonizing public transport and moving away from personal transport (conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)). Electric buses (EBs) and hydrogen buses (HBs) have the potential to fulfil requirements if powered from low carbon renewable energy sources.A comparison of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced from conventionally fuelled buses (CFB), EBs and HBs between 2017 and 2050 under four National Grid electricity scenarios was conducted. In addition, emissions per person at different vehicle capacity levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) were projected for CFBs, HBs, EBs and personal transport assuming a maximum of 80 passengers per bus and four per personal vehicle.Results indicated that CFVs produced 30 gCO2 km−1 per person compared to 16.3 gCO2 km−1 per person by CFBs by 2050. At 100% capacity, under the two-degree scenario, CFB emissions were 36 times higher than EBs, 9 times higher than HBs and 12 times higher than EVs in 2050. Cumulative emissions under all electricity scenarios remained lower for EBs and HBs.Policy makers need to focus on encouraging a modal shift from personal transport towards sustainable public transport, primarily EBs as the lowest level emitting vehicle type. Simple electrification of personal vehicles will not meet the required targets. Simultaneously, CFBs need to be replaced with EBs and HBs if the UK is going to meet emission targets.

AB - For the UK to meet their national target of net zero emissions as part of the central Paris Agreement target, further emphasis needs to be placed on decarbonizing public transport and moving away from personal transport (conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)). Electric buses (EBs) and hydrogen buses (HBs) have the potential to fulfil requirements if powered from low carbon renewable energy sources.A comparison of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced from conventionally fuelled buses (CFB), EBs and HBs between 2017 and 2050 under four National Grid electricity scenarios was conducted. In addition, emissions per person at different vehicle capacity levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) were projected for CFBs, HBs, EBs and personal transport assuming a maximum of 80 passengers per bus and four per personal vehicle.Results indicated that CFVs produced 30 gCO2 km−1 per person compared to 16.3 gCO2 km−1 per person by CFBs by 2050. At 100% capacity, under the two-degree scenario, CFB emissions were 36 times higher than EBs, 9 times higher than HBs and 12 times higher than EVs in 2050. Cumulative emissions under all electricity scenarios remained lower for EBs and HBs.Policy makers need to focus on encouraging a modal shift from personal transport towards sustainable public transport, primarily EBs as the lowest level emitting vehicle type. Simple electrification of personal vehicles will not meet the required targets. Simultaneously, CFBs need to be replaced with EBs and HBs if the UK is going to meet emission targets.

KW - buses

KW - electric buses

KW - hydrogen buses

KW - carbon dioxide emissions

KW - LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT

KW - Carbon dioxide emissions

KW - PERFORMANCE

KW - Hydrogen buses

KW - ATTITUDES

KW - NATURAL-GAS

KW - VEHICLES

KW - RENEWABLE ENERGY

KW - Buses

KW - Electric buses

KW - GENERATION

KW - PUBLIC TRANSPORT

KW - HYBRID

KW - RESOURCE

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U2 - 10.1016/j.trd.2020.102350

DO - 10.1016/j.trd.2020.102350

M3 - Article

SN - 1361-9209

VL - 85

JO - Transportation Research Part D

JF - Transportation Research Part D

M1 - 102350

ER -

Electric and hydrogen buses: Shifting from conventionally fuelled cars in the UK

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Astley Hastings

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Electric and hydrogen buses: Shifting from conventionally fuelled cars in the UK

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Profiles

Astley Hastings

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