Researchers used characteristics of the operations and 736-bus fleet of the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC) to estimate life-cycle costs associated with several alternative fuel options for transit buses. The analysis considered the following variations for a 40-foot and a 60-foot transit bus:
- Conventional bus powered by either diesel or a biodiesel blend (B20 or B100)
- Diesel hybrid-electric bus
- Sparking-ignition bus powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Battery electric bus (BEB) (rapid or slow charging)
Estimates were made for life cycle ownership that included costs for buses and infrastructure, and costs associated with environmental externalities attributable to greenhouse gases (GHGs) and criteria air pollutants (CAPs) emitted during the life cycle of bus operation. Two funding scenarios were modeled: a common 80 percent external / 20 percent local; and a 100 percent agency funded scenario.
Researchers used characteristics of the operations and 736-bus fleet of the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC) to estimate life-cycle costs associated with several alternative fuel options for transit buses. The analysis considered the following variations for a 40-foot and a 60-foot transit bus:
- Conventional bus powered by either diesel or a biodiesel blend (B20 or B100)
- Diesel hybrid-electric bus
- Sparking-ignition bus powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Battery electric bus (BEB) (rapid or slow charging)
Estimates were made for life cycle ownership that included costs for buses and infrastructure, and costs associated with environmental externalities attributable to greenhouse gases (GHGs) and criteria air pollutants (CAPs) emitted during the life cycle of bus operation. Two funding scenarios were modeled: a common 80 percent external / 20 percent local; and a 100 percent agency funded scenario.
Volume 57, December 2017
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