Energy Assessment of Alternative City Bus Lines: A Case Study in Gijón, Spain

Jose Diaz (), Borja Pérez and Francisco J. Fernández
Additional contact information
Jose Diaz: Polytechnic School of Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33204 Gijón, Spain
Borja Pérez: Polytechnic School of Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33204 Gijón, Spain
Francisco J. Fernández: Polytechnic School of Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33204 Gijón, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: The progressive substitution of traditional buses with electric ones in urban public transport constitutes a fundamental challenge towards sustainable mobility. This paper presents a methodological approach to assess energy consumption in urban bus networks, focusing on a city with varied topography and examining alternative bus lines for similar trips. Utilizing a quasi-static longitudinal model, real GPS data, and open access terrain models, the analysis aims to provide a nuanced understanding of energy performance, considering factors such as stop characteristics, gradients, and driving styles. The influence of driving style on commercial speed is observed to be modest, yet significant, in terms of energy efficiency. This research identifies the most advantageous line for transitioning from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to Electric Motor (EM) powertrains, resulting in a significant 68% reduction in energy consumption. Beyond specific line details, this methodology offers insights applicable to medium-sized cities, emphasizing efficient route prioritization and providing enhanced user information for informed decisions in the context of sustainable transportation solutions.

Keywords: sustainable mobility; urban public transport; bus line comparison; energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/4101/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/4101/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:10:p:4101-:d:1394142

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().