Navigating the Path to Electric Bus Integration: Ecological, Financial, and Strategic Analyses

Abstract

Electric buses (E-buses) are gaining global attention for their positive impact on the environment and urban living. Governments worldwide recognize their potential to reduce air and noise pollution, ultimately enhancing urban environments. Despite their high energy conversion rates and economic advantages, widespread adoption faces challenges such as the need for extensive charging infrastructure, financial constraints, and concerns over long charging times and battery replacement costs. Due to these complexities, developed regions like Europe and North America have been cautious in fully embracing electric buses. To assess the pros and cons of transitioning to E-buses, this article examines factors including charging infrastructure, financial implications, and the challenges associated with long charging times and battery replacement costs. (1) Analysis of the ecological consequences of the E-bus transition is crucial for promoting its adoption, focusing on a five-dimensional comparison with diesel buses. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze air pollution using selected city data. (2) A financial implications model examined investment and returns, encompassing operational, capital, and overall costs for E-bus replacement. Expected returns were calculated considering three factors, providing a comprehensive financial overview. (3) Leveraging the financial analysis results, we devised a 10-year roadmap for full electric bus integration using linear programming. This approach maximizes expected returns by solving the investment portfolio proportions. Finally, we detailedly calculated the ecological sequence cost of conversion to fully electric flies for the selected city.