Evaluating sustainable fuel alternatives for Brazilian public transport: A comprehensive well-to-wheel analysis
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2026
Subject Area
place - south america, place - urban, technology - alternative fuels, technology - emissions, policy - sustainable, infrastructure - fleet management, planning - environmental impact, planning - methods
Keywords
Diesel, electricity, GHG, impact categories, life cycle assessment, liquefied natural gas, public transport, well-to-wheel
Abstract
Growing concerns about climate change and environmental degradation have led to global efforts to reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs). In response, the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, has joined UN programs and developed a decarbonization plan aimed at neutralizing GHG emissions. This plan proposes strategies for reducing emissions from collective public transport. This article evaluates the emissions and impacts on human health and the environment associated with different fuels used in public transport. The fuels analyzed include BS-500, BS-10, electricity, and compressed natural gas (CNG). A method based on well-to-wheel analysis was used to assess emissions of air pollutants (CO, NOₓ, SO2, NMHC, PM), GHGs (CO2, CH4, N2O), and their related impact categories. This method was applied to the public transport system in the Metropolitan Region of Greater Vitória, Brazil, using real fleet operation data from 2022. Six scenarios were evaluated, considering the partial or total replacement of the current fleet. Data on fuel production was obtained from Ecoinvent via OpenLCA, and the impact categories were analyzed using the IMPACT 2002+ method. The results indicate that a complete electrified fleet is the best transition alternative, potentially reducing CO2e emissions by 99.75%. Given the associated costs, partial electrification is a viable alternative, offering substantial reductions in all emissions. However, the use of CNG proved not to be a suitable option for decarbonization, as it sometimes increased emissions of certain pollutants and is a fossil fuel.
Rights
Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Taylor&Francis, copyright remains with them.
Recommended Citation
Hoffmann, B. D. S., Rosa, R. D. A., & Reis Junior, N. C. (2026). Evaluating sustainable fuel alternatives for Brazilian public transport: A comprehensive well-to-wheel analysis. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 20(1), 82-107.
