Strong Sustainability in Public Transport Policies: An e-Mobility Bus Fleet Application in Sorrento Peninsula (Italy)

Abstract

Sustainability can be defined as the capacity to satisfy current needs without compromising future generations. Sustainable development clashes with the transport sector because of the latter’s high fossil fuels usage, consumption of natural resources and emission of pollutant and greenhouse gases. Electric mobility seems to be one of the best options to achieve both the sustainability goals and the mobility needs. This paper critically analysed weaknesses, strengths and application fields of electric mobility, proposing a real case application of an e-mobility bus fleet in Sorrento peninsula (Italy). The aim and the originality of this research was to propose a public transport design methodology based on a “strong sustainability” policy and applied to a real case study. To be precise, the renewing of the “old” bus fleet with a diesel plug-in hybrid one charged by a photovoltaic system was proposed, aiming to both improve environmental sustainability and perform an investment return for a private operator in managing the transport service. The proposed case study is particularly suitable because the peculiar morphology of the Sorrento peninsula in Italy does not allow other types of public transport services (e.g., rail, metro). Furthermore, this area, rich in UNESCO sites, has always been an international tourist destination because of the environment and landscape. Estimation results show that the new e-mobility bus service will be able to reduce the greenhouse gases emissions up to the 23%, with a financial payback period of 10 years for a private investor.

Exploring the Effects of Safety Climate on Worker’s Safety Behavior in Subway Operation

“…Compared with other modes of transportation, public transportation plays a positive role in improving efficiency, saving resources, and reducing pollution. Cartenì et al [5] mentioned that the e-Mobility Bus, as an environmentally friendly and powerful energy-saving system, plays an important role in sustainable urban transportation. Ko and Oh [6] pointed out that wireless charging trams overcome the shortcomings of traditional trams.…”

A Sustainable Evaluation Processes for Investments in the Transport Sector: A Combined Multi-Criteria and Cost–Benefit Analysis for a New Highway in Italy

“…For the cost-benefit analysis, the comparison among the project alternatives was performed through the difference between costs and benefits over the years (30 years of the time period). Defined and quantified (in monetary terms), the impacts related to the design scenarios (some measure of effectiveness (MOE) as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) r 0 , benefit/cost ratio (Bi/Ci), payback period (PBP)) were estimated (for details on the formula of the MOE indicators see [115,116]).…”

Particulate Matter Short-Term Exposition, Mobility Trips and COVID-19 Diffusion: A Correlation Analyses for the Italian Case Study at Urban Scale

“…Among the research perspectives, there will be the estimation of a multivariable model aiming to evaluate daily COVID-19 cases/deaths as a function of some of the main context variables (e.g., population, exposure, peak infectivity, infection associated with heavy symptoms, asymptomatic/mild symptom, hospitalized cases, quarantine at home, and recovered/dead individuals), where mobility and air quality measures (the ones discussed in this research) could contribute to better describing the overall pandemic phenomena. Furthermore, other research perspectives should also consider impact assessment analyses (e.g., cost-benefit vs. multicriteria [60][61][62][63]) of sustainable mobility policies, such as the electric mobility (e-mobility) and Mobility as a Service (MaaS), in the "new normal" post-coronavirus era.…”