Electric and hydrogen buses: Shifting from conventionally fuelled cars in the UK

Kathryn G Logan,John D Nelson,Astley Hastings

doi:10.1016/j.trd.2020.102350

Kathryn G Logan, John D Nelson + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102350

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Abstract

For the UK to meet their national target of net zero emissions as part of the central Paris Agreement target, further emphasis needs to be placed on decarbonizing public transport and moving away from personal transport (conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)). Electric buses (EBs) and hydrogen buses (HBs) have the potential to fulfil requirements if powered from low carbon renewable energy sources.A comparison of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced from conventionally fuelled buses (CFB), EBs and HBs between 2017 and 2050 under four National Grid electricity scenarios was conducted. In addition, emissions per person at different vehicle capacity levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) were projected for CFBs, HBs, EBs and personal transport assuming a maximum of 80 passengers per bus and four per personal vehicle.Results indicated that CFVs produced 30 gCO2 km−1 per person compared to 16.3 gCO2 km−1 per person by CFBs by 2050. At 100% capacity, under the two-degree scenario, CFB emissions were 36 times higher than EBs, 9 times higher than HBs and 12 times higher than EVs in 2050. Cumulative emissions under all electricity scenarios remained lower for EBs and HBs.Policy makers need to focus on encouraging a modal shift from personal transport towards sustainable public transport, primarily EBs as the lowest level emitting vehicle type. Simple electrification of personal vehicles will not meet the required targets. Simultaneously, CFBs need to be replaced with EBs and HBs if the UK is going to meet emission targets.

Highlights

Transport is the leading contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the UK, closely followed by energy generation, both of which will contribute to irreversible climate damage over the decade if changes are not made
Results indicated that conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFVs) produced 30 gCO2 km−1 per person compared to 16.3 gCO2 km−1 per person by conventionally fuelled buses (CFB) by 2050
Cumulative emissions under all electricity scenarios remained lower for electric buses (EBs) and hydrogen buses (HBs)

Summary

Introduction

Transport is the leading contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the UK, closely followed by energy generation, both of which will contribute to irreversible climate damage over the decade if changes are not made. The UK has begun introducing electric buses (EBs), and more recently hydrogen buses (HBs), into the transport network Both EBs and HBs offer key advantages over conventionally fuelled buses (CFBs) and other conventionally fuelled vehicles (CFVs), as they do not produce emissions directly from operation since their emissions are produced upstream (Correa et al, 2017; Mekhilef et al, 2012). This means their true environmental impact is dependent upon non-tailpipe emissions from fuel/energy production. The Paris Agreement has set a target to limit global warming to less than 2 °C above pre-industrial temperatures and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5

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