Page 21 - Guidelines for cities to achieve carbon Net Zero through digital transformation

Electric cars and buses

Electric cars are classified in three main categories, namely battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell
hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Vehicle emission problems
can be solved using two approaches. The first method is to change the fuel type used (which can
be addressed either by increasing the quality of conventional fuel or by using alternative fuel
systems). The second method concerns the engine technology (which involves the reduction of
in-use vehicle emissions and the new vehicles’ emissions standards). Simultaneously, the transport
sector can have a positive effect on the reduction of excess fuel consumption. Electric Vehicles
(EV) are probably the best choice for reducing emissions from the transport sector (Wilberforce et
al., 2017). To urge people to use EVs, many countries have implemented preferential policies. EV
owners benefit from tax breaks, as well as from reduced insurance premiums, highway tolls and
parking fees. The maximum subsidy could be increased to 50 per cent for EVs in Japan, while Korea
(Republic of) communicated plans to increase EV market share by improving battery capacity and
establishing charging stations in July 2016. Germany, since 2016, has applied a series of measures
such as exempting EVs from annual sales tax for 10 years and introducing a direct subsidy for private
EV buyers. Since 2008, France has organized a bonus system to motivate her citizens to buy EVs,
and the United States of America has granted tax credits for EVs linked to battery capacity. In 2014,
more than 37 states set up incentives and tax exemptions for EVs. The Government of the United
Kingdom has issued a policy to encourage residents to increase the use of bicycles and electric
cars as their means of transportation (Nguyen et al., 2020).

Electric buses have a series of advantages over buses equipped with internal combustion engines
(ICEs). The electric bus is practically silent, easy to operate and reliable. Electric cars and buses have
lower operating costs than buses with internal combustion engines (ICEs). This happens because
electric buses do not need frequent regular maintenance due to the lack of consumable materials
like motor and transmission oils. Moreover, the use of electric buses will help in decreasing the
pollutant emission level, while improving the quality of trips due to low noise and vibration levels
inside the vehicles, the availability of services for passengers (USB-charger) and a hundred-per
cent low floor without elevation changes (Gabsalikhova et al., 2018). For the coming years, several
cities are considering e-buses as an increasingly effective alternative as compared with conventional
buses. Consequently, in 2020, approximately 600 000 electric buses were on the road globally.
In China, 78 000 new electric buses circulated on the roads (up 9 per cent from 2019), while in
Europe, electric buses registrations totalled 2 100 in 2020. This increase is due to the electrification
goals that were established in several nations. One example is Hungary, which, in 2020, launched a
Green Bus Programme, committing to replace half of the conventional bus fleet with electric buses
within the following ten years (Rodrigues & Seixas, 2022).

11