Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/225278 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
ZEW Discussion Papers No. 20-054
Publisher: 
ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim
Abstract: 
Comprehensive global decarbonization will require that transportation services cease to rely on fossil fuels. Here we develop a generic life-cycle cost model to address two closely related questions central to the emergence of sustainable transportation: (i) the utilization rates (hours of operation) that rank-order alternative drivetrains in terms of their cost, and (ii) the cost-efficient share of clean energy drivetrains in a vehicle fleet of competing drivetrains. Calibrating our model framework in the context of urban transit buses, we examine how the comparison between diesel and battery-electric buses varies with the specifics of the duty cycle (route). We find that even for less favorable duty cycles, battery-electric buses will entail lower life-cycle costs once utilization rates exceed 20% of the annual hours. Yet, the current economics of that particular application still calls for a one-third share of diesel drivetrains in a cost-efficient fleet.
Subjects: 
clean energy vehicles
transportation services
life-cycle cost
fleet optimization
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
463.55 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.