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Zero Emission Buses for Public Transport
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Zero Emission Buses for Public Transport

A special issue of World Electric Vehicle Journal (ISSN 2032-6653).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 4906

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rishabh Ghotge

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy Infrastructure, Cenex Nederland, 1031 KS Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Interests: electric vehicles; electric buses; charging infrastructure; smart charging; renewable electricity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Omar Hegazy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MOBI Research Centre for Electromobility, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Interests: power electronics and electric powertrain design; energy and power management strategies for Evs; smart charging infrastructure and V2X technologies; reliability, lifetime prediction, digital twin (DT) of EV components; battery management systems (BMS) and next-gen battery integration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Thomas Geury

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MOBI-EPOWERS Research Group/ETEC Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Interests: power electronics; energy management strategies; electric vehicles including e-buses; smart charging; renewable systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Buses for public transport have a unique role to play in the decarbonisation of the road transport sector. With known and scheduled routes, large and cost-sensitive fleets, heavy passenger loading, long hours of operation, and stringent air pollution regulations in the metropolitan areas where most of these vehicles are located, bus decarbonisation faces unique challenges. Buses are also subject to tighter regulations as part of competitive tendering processes by local and regional governments aiming to decarbonise public transport.

The ongoing transition to zero-emission buses presents opportunities for innovation across several aspects of bus infrastructure and system planning, including bus powertrains, energy storage systems, charging and fuelling infrastructure, thermal management systems for buses, routing and route-planning, trip demand prediction, traffic signal operation integration, environmental aspects, business models, and technical standards.

In this Special Issue, Zero-Emission Buses for Public Transport, we aim to present the latest developments towards zero-emission buses. We invite original research papers in the following areas:

  • Bus powertrain optimisation;
  • Bus charging and fuelling infrastructure;
  • Infrastructure planning for zero-emission buses;
  • Route planning and scheduling for zero-emission buses;
  • Energy storage systems for zero-emission buses;
  • Case studies on zero-emission bus deployment;
  • Developments in technical standards and tendering requirements in zero emission buses;
  • Emerging business models for zero-emission buses;
  • Life cycle assessments and environmental impacts of zero-emission buses.

We aim, in this Special Issue, to present the state-of-the-art and latest innovations in low-emission buses for public transport, current challenges faced in the decarbonisation of these vehicles, and directions for future work.

Dr. Rishabh Ghotge
Prof. Dr. Omar Hegazy
Dr. Thomas Geury
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. World Electric Vehicle Journal is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • zero-emission buses
  • ZEB
  • electric bus
  • e-bus
  • bus
  • coach

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

35 pages, 2008 KiB  
Article
From Simulation to Implementation: A Systems Model for Electric Bus Fleet Deployment in Metropolitan Areas
by Ludger Heide, Shuyao Guo and Dietmar Göhlich
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(7), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16070378 - 5 Jul 2025
Viewed by 214
Abstract
Urban bus fleets worldwide face urgent decarbonization requirements, with Germany targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. Current electrification research often addresses individual components—energy consumption, scheduling, or charging infrastructure—in isolation, lacking integrated frameworks that capture complex system interactions. This study presents “eflips-X”, a modular, open-source [...] Read more.
Urban bus fleets worldwide face urgent decarbonization requirements, with Germany targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. Current electrification research often addresses individual components—energy consumption, scheduling, or charging infrastructure—in isolation, lacking integrated frameworks that capture complex system interactions. This study presents “eflips-X”, a modular, open-source simulation framework that integrates energy consumption modeling, battery-aware block building, depot–block assignment, terminus charger placement, depot operations simulation, and smart charging optimization within a unified workflow. The framework employs empirical energy models, graph-based scheduling algorithms, and integer linear programming for depot assignment and smart charging. Applied to Berlin’s bus network—Germany’s largest—three scenarios were evaluated: maintaining existing blocks with electrification, exclusive depot charging, and small batteries with extensive terminus charging. Electric fleets need 2.1–7.1% additional vehicles compared to diesel operations, with hybrid depot-terminus charging strategies minimizing this increase. Smart charging reduces peak power demand by 49.8% on average, while different charging strategies yield distinct trade-offs between infrastructure requirements, fleet size, and operational efficiency. The framework enables systematic evaluation of electrification pathways, supporting evidence-based planning for zero-emission public transport transitions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero Emission Buses for Public Transport)
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22 pages, 1664 KiB  
Article
Techno-Economic Assessment of Alternative-Fuel Bus Technologies Under Real Driving Conditions in a Developing Country Context
by Marc Haddad and Charbel Mansour
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(6), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16060337 - 19 Jun 2025
Viewed by 683
Abstract
The long-standing need for a modern public transportation system in Lebanon, a developing country of the Middle East with an almost exclusive dependence on costly and polluting passenger cars, has become more pressing in recent years due to the worsening economic crisis and [...] Read more.
The long-standing need for a modern public transportation system in Lebanon, a developing country of the Middle East with an almost exclusive dependence on costly and polluting passenger cars, has become more pressing in recent years due to the worsening economic crisis and the onset of hyperinflation. This study investigates the potential reductions in energy use, emissions, and costs from the possible introduction of natural gas, hybrid, and battery-electric buses compared to traditional diesel buses in local real driving conditions. Four operating conditions were considered including severe congestion, peak, off-peak, and bus rapid transit (BRT) operation. Battery-electric buses are found to be the best performers in any traffic operation, conditional on having clean energy supply at the power plant and significant subsidy of bus purchase cost. Natural gas buses do not provide significant greenhouse gas emission savings compared to diesel buses but offer substantial reductions in the emission of all major pollutants harmful to human health. Results also show that accounting for additional energy consumption from the use of climate-control auxiliaries in hot and cold weather can significantly impact the performance of all bus technologies by up to 44.7% for electric buses on average. Performance of all considered bus technologies improves considerably in free-flowing traffic conditions, making BRT operation the most beneficial. A vehicle mix of diesel, natural gas, and hybrid bus technologies is found most feasible for the case of Lebanon and similar developing countries lacking necessary infrastructure for a near-term transition to battery-electric technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero Emission Buses for Public Transport)
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19 pages, 304 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Electric Buses as a Sustainable Transport Mode Using Multicriteria Decision-Making Methods
by Antonio Barragán-Escandón, Henry Armijos-Cárdenas, Adrián Armijos-García, Esteban Zalamea-León and Xavier Serrano-Guerrero
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(5), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16050263 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 689
Abstract
The transition to electric public transportation is crucial for reducing the carbon footprint and promoting environmental sustainability. However, successful implementation requires strong public policies, including tax incentives and educational programs, to encourage widespread adoption. This study identifies the optimal electric bus model for [...] Read more.
The transition to electric public transportation is crucial for reducing the carbon footprint and promoting environmental sustainability. However, successful implementation requires strong public policies, including tax incentives and educational programs, to encourage widespread adoption. This study identifies the optimal electric bus model for Cuenca, Ecuador, using the multicriteria decision-making methods PROMETHEE and TOPSIS. The evaluation considers four key dimensions: technical (autonomy, passenger capacity, charging time, engine power), economic (acquisition, operation, and maintenance costs), social (community acceptance and accessibility), and environmental (reduction of pollutant emissions). The results highlight passenger capacity as the most influential criterion, followed by autonomy and engine power. The selected electric bus model emerges as the most suitable option due to its energy efficiency, low maintenance costs, and long service life, making it a cost-effective long-term investment. Additionally, its adoption would enhance air quality and improve the overall user experience. Beyond its relevance to Cuenca, this study provides a replicable methodology for evaluating electric bus feasibility in other cities with different geographic and socioeconomic contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero Emission Buses for Public Transport)
20 pages, 6264 KiB  
Article
The Practical Learning on Electric Bus Conversion to Support Carbon Neutrality Policy in Thailand’s Transport Sector
by Natin Janjamraj, Chaiyoot Changsarn, Somchai Hiranvarodom and Krischonme Bhumkittipich
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(3), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16030181 - 17 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 942
Abstract
Climate change is one of the problems that affects the climate, natural disasters, and lives, economies, and industries around the world. Since the main cause is the combustion of fossil fuels, the transportation sector is a significant factor in causing these problems. Therefore, [...] Read more.
Climate change is one of the problems that affects the climate, natural disasters, and lives, economies, and industries around the world. Since the main cause is the combustion of fossil fuels, the transportation sector is a significant factor in causing these problems. Therefore, many countries, including Thailand, have policies to promote the increased use of electric vehicles. However, past measures have focused mostly on promoting the use of personal electric vehicles. For public transportation, buses are a major part of creating pollution and the problems of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5-micron (PM 2.5), which is another major problem in Thailand because Thailand has many old buses. However, pushing transport operators to switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) buses to electric buses requires a large budget. Therefore, the conversion of old ICE buses into electric buses is one approach that can help promote the use of electric buses to become more possible. Another issue that makes transport operators afraid to switch from ICE buses to electric buses is the shortage of maintenance personnel. Therefore, this action research focuses on creating knowledge and practical skills related to electric vehicle modification and maintenance in the education sector. From the results of this practical research, the researcher was able to modify the old ICE bus into an electric bus and passed the test according to the research objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero Emission Buses for Public Transport)
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31 pages, 6282 KiB  
Article
Energy Consumption Prediction for Electric Buses Based on Traction Modeling and LightGBM
by Jian Zhao, Jin He, Jiangbo Wang and Kai Liu
World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(3), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16030159 - 10 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1291
Abstract
In the pursuit of sustainable urban transportation, electric buses (EBs) have emerged as a promising solution to reduce emissions. The increasing adoption of EBs highlights the critical need for accurate energy consumption prediction. This study presents a comprehensive methodology integrating traction modeling with [...] Read more.
In the pursuit of sustainable urban transportation, electric buses (EBs) have emerged as a promising solution to reduce emissions. The increasing adoption of EBs highlights the critical need for accurate energy consumption prediction. This study presents a comprehensive methodology integrating traction modeling with a Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM)-based trip-level energy consumption prediction framework to address challenges in power system efficiency and passenger load estimation. The proposed approach combines transmission system efficiency evaluation with dynamic passenger load estimation, incorporating temporal, weather, and driving pattern features. The LightGBM model, hyperparameter tuned through Bayesian Optimization (BO), achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 3.92% and root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.398 kWh, outperforming traditional methods. SHAP analysis revealed crucial feature impacts on trip-level energy consumption predictions, providing valuable insights for operational optimization. The model’s computational efficiency makes it suitable for real-time IoT applications while establishing precise parameters for future optimization strategies, contributing to more sustainable urban transit systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zero Emission Buses for Public Transport)
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