Environmental Impact Reduction of a Trolleybus System in the City of São Paulo, Brazil

Gabriel Santos Rodrigues, João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis, Olga Orynycz (), Karol Tucki (), Jonas Matijošius and Sivanilza Teixeira Machado
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Gabriel Santos Rodrigues: RESUP-Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212-4fl, São Paulo 04026-002, Brazil
João Gilberto Mendes dos Reis: RESUP-Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212-4fl, São Paulo 04026-002, Brazil
Olga Orynycz: Department of Production Management, Faculty of Engineering Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska Street 45A, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Karol Tucki: Department of Production Engineering, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska Street 164, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Jonas Matijošius: Mechanic Science Institute, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės Str. 25, LT-10105 Vilnius, Lithuania
Sivanilza Teixeira Machado: NAPOLE Research Group, Federal Institute of São Paulo, Av. Mogi das Cruzes 1501, Suzano 08673-010, Brazil

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Several cities worldwide are studying the replacement of their trolleybus systems with diesel buses or battery electric buses, due to their flexibility and lower operational costs. Diesel buses are considered a major cause of gas emissions in cities, while battery electric buses employ cutting-edge technology, but there is still discussion around the topic due to their technology costs, autonomy, and the sustainability of battery packs. In this study, we evaluated the trolleybus system’s potential for reducing emissions, noise pollution, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) when compared to diesel buses. Furthermore, we compared the trolleybus system with battery electric buses in terms of cost and environmental benefits. To do so, a case study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in Latin America, which operates the second-highest trolleybus system on the American continent. Our results show that the trolleybus system is a feasible alternative to diesel buses when considering environmental aspects. It can be seen as a complementary service for urban transport systems in the city’s transition to clean energy. Finally, the study implications indicate the need for further investigation of the benefits of in-motion-charge technology to generate flexibility in trolleybus systems, and the involvement of stakeholders in the transition matrix energy process in urban bus systems beyond the direct costs.

Keywords: trolleybus; electric energy; urban transport system; transport analysis; sustainable cities (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: 2024
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