Strong Sustainability in Public Transport Policies: An e-Mobility Bus Fleet Application in Sorrento Peninsula (Italy)

Armando Cartenì, Ilaria Henke, Clorinda Molitierno and Luigi Di Francesco
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Armando Cartenì: Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Ilaria Henke: Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Clorinda Molitierno: Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Luigi Di Francesco: Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-19

Abstract: Sustainability can be defined as the capacity to satisfy current needs without compromising future generations. Sustainable development clashes with the transport sector because of the latter’s high fossil fuels usage, consumption of natural resources and emission of pollutant and greenhouse gases. Electric mobility seems to be one of the best options to achieve both the sustainability goals and the mobility needs. This paper critically analysed weaknesses, strengths and application fields of electric mobility, proposing a real case application of an e-mobility bus fleet in Sorrento peninsula (Italy). The aim and the originality of this research was to propose a public transport design methodology based on a “strong sustainability” policy and applied to a real case study. To be precise, the renewing of the “old” bus fleet with a diesel plug-in hybrid one charged by a photovoltaic system was proposed, aiming to both improve environmental sustainability and perform an investment return for a private operator in managing the transport service. The proposed case study is particularly suitable because the peculiar morphology of the Sorrento peninsula in Italy does not allow other types of public transport services (e.g., rail, metro). Furthermore, this area, rich in UNESCO sites, has always been an international tourist destination because of the environment and landscape. Estimation results show that the new e-mobility bus service will be able to reduce the greenhouse gases emissions up to the 23%, with a financial payback period of 10 years for a private investor.

Keywords: e-mobility; electric vehicle; plug-in hybrid; strong sustainability; weak sustainability; MaaS; sustainable mobility; new technologies; local emissions; environmental impacts; revenue-cost analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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