Evaluation of Ecological Efficiency Resulting From the Application of Modern Buses In Urban Communications

The use of modern vehicles may contribute to limiting the adverse impact of urban transport on the environment. Evaluation of the options for choosing new means of transport in terms of economic and ecological benefits allows for the identification of the most advantageous variants. The solution is to consider replacing a bus compliant with a Euro III norm (base variant) with a one compliant with Euro VI (option 1) or with an electric counterpart (option 2). The evaluation of the solutions was based on the calculated parameters: a monetary value reflecting the energy cost of the analyzed buses and the ecological effect of the reduced emissions from the Euro VI bus or the electric bus compared with the Euro III vehicle. The ecological effect resulting from the use of the electric bus was determined taking into account the emissions from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas) and biomass. The method of cost analysis was used to evaluate the solution of replacing older buses with new ones (with different types of propulsion). It is based on calculating the unit cost of achieving the ecological effect of the solution.