Life cycle cost analysis for electric vs diesel bus transit in an Indian scenario

Abstract

The "business as usual" scenario for most cities in India involves utilization of fossil fuels (diesel and CNG) for bus transit. Electric mobility is a potential solution to reduce the carbon footprint of city public transport. This paper analyzes the feasibility of this and computes the life cycle cost (LCC) of the procurement and operation of electric as opposed to diesel buses based on a functional unit of one bus driven 100 km per day. The research indicates that the total cost of ownership (TCO) of an electric bus, calculated over a life cycle of 25 years, is 5-10% less compared to a diesel bus. Sensitivity analysis is performed for the TCO of the electric bus in order to prepare a robust case to accommodate market fluctuations and the research assumptions. Component-wise analysis indicates several potential measures that may be taken to improve the viability and feasibility of electric buses. The research goal is to enable decision-making on the adoption of electric mobility by respective urban local bodies. This would promote the use of sustainable transport in urban localities and would also help in reducing the carbon footprint.