A global, hybrid life cycle sustainability assessment of alternative fuel buses: Supporting decision making for sustainability and eco-efficiency

Noura Elagouz; Nuri C. Onat; Murat Kucukvar; Muhammet E. Bulak; Adeeb A. Kutty; Ammar Abulibdeh; Esmat Zaidan

doi:10.1080/15568318.2025.2598005

A global, hybrid life cycle sustainability assessment of alternative fuel buses: Supporting decision making for sustainability and eco-efficiency

Noura Elagouz
, Nuri C. Onat
, Murat Kucukvar^*
, Muhammet E. Bulak
, Adeeb A. Kutty
, Ammar Abulibdeh
, Esmat Zaidan

^*Corresponding author for this work

Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center
University of Denver
Uskudar University
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Department of Humanities
Hamad bin Khalifa University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Lower life cycle costs are often seen as an indicator of sustainability but do not always align with higher eco-efficiency. This study evaluates the sustainability and eco-efficiency of 13 city bus brands, including electric, diesel, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, focusing on environmental, socio-economic, and life cycle cost impacts. A hybrid Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) model, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), was applied to assess 34 buses in Qatar’s transportation system. The study finds that solar-powered electric buses from Turkey and India, along with CNG buses from Germany, Spain, and Sweden, offer the most sustainable options. However, lower life cycle costs do not guarantee higher eco-efficiency. The study recommends prioritizing solar-powered electric and high-performing CNG buses for policy support in public transport.

Original language	English
Journal	International Journal of Sustainable Transportation
Early online date	Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/15568318.2025.2598005
Publication status	Published - 2 Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Alternative fuel buses
data envelopment analysis
life cycle sustainability assessment
principal component analysis
sustainability performance

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10.1080/15568318.2025.2598005

Cite this

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title = "A global, hybrid life cycle sustainability assessment of alternative fuel buses: Supporting decision making for sustainability and eco-efficiency",

abstract = "Lower life cycle costs are often seen as an indicator of sustainability but do not always align with higher eco-efficiency. This study evaluates the sustainability and eco-efficiency of 13 city bus brands, including electric, diesel, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, focusing on environmental, socio-economic, and life cycle cost impacts. A hybrid Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) model, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), was applied to assess 34 buses in Qatar{\textquoteright}s transportation system. The study finds that solar-powered electric buses from Turkey and India, along with CNG buses from Germany, Spain, and Sweden, offer the most sustainable options. However, lower life cycle costs do not guarantee higher eco-efficiency. The study recommends prioritizing solar-powered electric and high-performing CNG buses for policy support in public transport.",

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AU - Elagouz, Noura

AU - Onat, Nuri C.

AU - Kucukvar, Murat

AU - Bulak, Muhammet E.

AU - Kutty, Adeeb A.

AU - Abulibdeh, Ammar

AU - Zaidan, Esmat

PY - 2025/12/2

Y1 - 2025/12/2

N2 - Lower life cycle costs are often seen as an indicator of sustainability but do not always align with higher eco-efficiency. This study evaluates the sustainability and eco-efficiency of 13 city bus brands, including electric, diesel, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, focusing on environmental, socio-economic, and life cycle cost impacts. A hybrid Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) model, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), was applied to assess 34 buses in Qatar’s transportation system. The study finds that solar-powered electric buses from Turkey and India, along with CNG buses from Germany, Spain, and Sweden, offer the most sustainable options. However, lower life cycle costs do not guarantee higher eco-efficiency. The study recommends prioritizing solar-powered electric and high-performing CNG buses for policy support in public transport.

AB - Lower life cycle costs are often seen as an indicator of sustainability but do not always align with higher eco-efficiency. This study evaluates the sustainability and eco-efficiency of 13 city bus brands, including electric, diesel, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, focusing on environmental, socio-economic, and life cycle cost impacts. A hybrid Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) model, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), was applied to assess 34 buses in Qatar’s transportation system. The study finds that solar-powered electric buses from Turkey and India, along with CNG buses from Germany, Spain, and Sweden, offer the most sustainable options. However, lower life cycle costs do not guarantee higher eco-efficiency. The study recommends prioritizing solar-powered electric and high-performing CNG buses for policy support in public transport.

KW - Alternative fuel buses

KW - data envelopment analysis

KW - life cycle sustainability assessment

KW - principal component analysis

KW - sustainability performance

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ER -

A global, hybrid life cycle sustainability assessment of alternative fuel buses: Supporting decision making for sustainability and eco-efficiency

Abstract

Keywords

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