Electrification of Transportation
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part of their cost, but as battery costs decrease, electric buses will become
even more competitive. As the electrical grid is transformed to reduce the
amount of carbon emissions associated with electricity generation, electric
buses will have greater benefits with respect to the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions. When urban air quality is considered, electric buses are an
ideal choice in large cities with poor air quality because emissions from
diesel buses affect air quality and health. Where electric buses have been
introduced, those who ride them have appreciated the noise reduction and
the better air quality.
In Europe, there is a coordinated effort to encourage the transition to electric buses through the European Clean Bus Deployment Initiative, which
was started in 2016 (Keizer et al, 2018). A declaration of intent from this initiative is to promote the deployment of clean, alternatively fueled buses,
with an emphasis on zero- emission buses. Local and regional leaders are
working cooperatively to reduce the emissions and noise associated with
bus transportation. The collaborative action of transport authorities, energy
providers, bus and grid operators, and manufacturers is advocated through
constructive meetings and communications. The goal of 30% zero- or lowemission buses by 2025 in Europe is also included in this declaration. Some
cities have announced plans to stop purchasing diesel buses (Copenhagen
in 2014, London in 2018, Berlin and Oslo in 2020). Other cities (Athens,
Madrid, and Paris) have plans to completely remove all diesel buses by 2025
(EC, 2018).
In India, there is significant interest and some progress with respect to
electric buses. A comprehensive report, ‘Electric Buses in India’ (GGGI,
2015), indicates that there is a strong interest in electric buses because of
the need to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduction in noise and improved energy efficiency are identified as additional benefits. The report includes an assessment of the benefits and
costs. India has a large population, and the transportation vehicle market
has been increasing rapidly towards India being the third largest in terms
of numbers of vehicles. There are cities with electric buses and electric bus
manufacturing in India (Saini, 2018; Dhabhar, 2018), and there is a goal of
having 100% electric buses in cities by 2030. Delhi currently has a plan to
acquire 700 electric buses, and the number of electric buses in India has
been growing since 2014, when the first electric buses were put into service in Bangalore (Saini, 2018).
One of the issues with respect to electric buses is when and where to charge
them. In some cases, the plan is to charge them at night. In other cases, the
buses are removed from service during the day and charged – for example,
rotating electric buses or supplementing with ICE buses until battery capacity reaches the necessary size for continuous daily use. A developing technology that also has good potential here is the use of wireless charging while
the bus stops to discharge and pick up passengers.
47
47
part of their cost, but as battery costs decrease, electric buses will become
even more competitive. As the electrical grid is transformed to reduce the
amount of carbon emissions associated with electricity generation, electric
buses will have greater benefits with respect to the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions. When urban air quality is considered, electric buses are an
ideal choice in large cities with poor air quality because emissions from
diesel buses affect air quality and health. Where electric buses have been
introduced, those who ride them have appreciated the noise reduction and
the better air quality.
In Europe, there is a coordinated effort to encourage the transition to electric buses through the European Clean Bus Deployment Initiative, which
was started in 2016 (Keizer et al, 2018). A declaration of intent from this initiative is to promote the deployment of clean, alternatively fueled buses,
with an emphasis on zero- emission buses. Local and regional leaders are
working cooperatively to reduce the emissions and noise associated with
bus transportation. The collaborative action of transport authorities, energy
providers, bus and grid operators, and manufacturers is advocated through
constructive meetings and communications. The goal of 30% zero- or lowemission buses by 2025 in Europe is also included in this declaration. Some
cities have announced plans to stop purchasing diesel buses (Copenhagen
in 2014, London in 2018, Berlin and Oslo in 2020). Other cities (Athens,
Madrid, and Paris) have plans to completely remove all diesel buses by 2025
(EC, 2018).
In India, there is significant interest and some progress with respect to
electric buses. A comprehensive report, ‘Electric Buses in India’ (GGGI,
2015), indicates that there is a strong interest in electric buses because of
the need to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduction in noise and improved energy efficiency are identified as additional benefits. The report includes an assessment of the benefits and
costs. India has a large population, and the transportation vehicle market
has been increasing rapidly towards India being the third largest in terms
of numbers of vehicles. There are cities with electric buses and electric bus
manufacturing in India (Saini, 2018; Dhabhar, 2018), and there is a goal of
having 100% electric buses in cities by 2030. Delhi currently has a plan to
acquire 700 electric buses, and the number of electric buses in India has
been growing since 2014, when the first electric buses were put into service in Bangalore (Saini, 2018).
One of the issues with respect to electric buses is when and where to charge
them. In some cases, the plan is to charge them at night. In other cases, the
buses are removed from service during the day and charged – for example,
rotating electric buses or supplementing with ICE buses until battery capacity reaches the necessary size for continuous daily use. A developing technology that also has good potential here is the use of wireless charging while
the bus stops to discharge and pick up passengers.