Sustainable Mobility: Analysis of the Implementation of Electric Bus in University Transportation
Ivonete Borne, Sara Angélica Santos de Souza, Evelyn Tânia Carniatto Silva, Gabriel Lucena de Carvalho Soares, Jorge Javier Giménez Ledesma, Oswaldo Hideo Ando
Abstract
Sustainable mobility in university environments presents both a challenge and an opportunity to reduce environmental impact and promote energy efficiency. This study assesses the feasibility of implementing electric buses in the internal transportation system of the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), considering environmental, economic, and operational aspects. The analysis demonstrates that transitioning to this model can lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, noise pollution mitigation, and optimization of operational costs throughout the vehicle’s life cycle. The study examines technical, structural, and financial factors, emphasizing the necessary infrastructure, academic community acceptance, and the economic viability of the project, as well as the strategic advantage of integrating the electric fleet with photovoltaic energy generation. The key highlights of this research include: (i) Sustainability and energy efficiency, emphasizing a reduction of up to 52.52% in CO2 emissions when vehicles are powered by photovoltaic energy in an LCA context, alongside improvements in air quality and noise pollution mitigation. (ii) Economic feasibility analysis, comparing operational and maintenance costs between electric and conventional diesel buses, evaluating the financial viability and potential return on investment. (iii) Infrastructure and implementation challenges, addressing the need for charging stations, adaptation of UFPB’s infrastructure, and financing models, including government subsidies and strategic partnerships. (iv) Impact on the academic community, analyzing student and staff perceptions and acceptance of fleet electrification and the promotion of sustainable practices. (v) Future projections and replicability, exploring trends in the sustainable transportation sector, as well as the potential expansion of the electric fleet and its integration with energy storage systems. The results indicate that adopting electric buses at UFPB can position the institution as a benchmark in sustainable mobility, serving as a replicable model for other universities and contributing to carbon emission reduction and modernization of university transportation.