Modelling noise reductions using electric buses in urban traffic. A case study from Stuttgart, Germany.

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Abstract Buses are heavy vehicles that account for high noise emissions within urban areas. Our case study examines, to what extent noise reduction can be achieved in urban areas using electric buses. We performed extensive sound measurements on three different bus types with conventional and electric drive concepts. The noise profiles were implemented into a sound propagation model and the noise levels were determined along exemplary bus routes in the city of Stuttgart, Germany. An isolated comparison of the buses reveals large sound level differences of up to 14 dB(A) at low speeds. However, these differences decrease with increasing speeds. Taking into account other traffic on exemplary bus routes, we determined almost no noise reduction using the electric buses on heavily trafficked roads. By contrast, in a quiet residential area, the average noise reduction when using electric buses were as high as 5 dB(A). Results show, that there is a great potential for noise reduction when using electric buses on routes with a high bus share of total traffic, low average travel speeds and a low percentage of other heavy traffic and especially at bus stops.