Analysis of GHG Emission from Cargo Vehicles in Megacities: The Case of the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico

Stephany Isabel Vallarta-Serrano, Ana Bricia Galindo-Muro, Riccardo Cespi () and Rogelio Bustamante-Bello
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Stephany Isabel Vallarta-Serrano: School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico City 14380, Mexico
Ana Bricia Galindo-Muro: School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico City 14380, Mexico
Riccardo Cespi: School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
Rogelio Bustamante-Bello: School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico City 14380, Mexico

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: Cities consume most of the energy used worldwide and are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that cause global warming, mainly from the road transport sector. In megacities, the light vehicle fleet is responsible for most of the emissions in the sector. Among this fleet, light commercial vehicles (CVs), which have grown to support instant delivery services demand, are also responsible for emissions and traffic congestion. Due to the urgency to reduce transport impacts, emission mitigation strategies are required. Aligned with this aim, this article evaluates GHG emissions along the entire process of energy production, called the operating trajectory, and also known as Well-To-Wheel (WTW), in four combinations of transportation modes for last-mile delivery services, using light CVs, such as electric or diesel vans, and electric cargo bikes (E-bikes). The analysis is firstly conducted in a local area of Mexico City and subsequently compared to other countries around the world. In this respect, the main result of this article shows that in the case study conducted in the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico, the energy consumption of a given route for an electric van combined with E-bikes generates 24% less GHG emissions than a diesel van combined with E-bikes. Therefore, the achievement of effective mitigation strategies for GHG emissions reduction through vehicle electrification requires WTW emission analysis and quantification, optimal route design, a combination of sustainable transport modes and clean energy generation.

Keywords: GHG emissions; energy consumption; Well-To-Wheel; commercial transport; instant deliveries; megacities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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