TY - JOUR
T1 - A global, hybrid life cycle sustainability assessment of alternative fuel buses
T2 - Supporting decision making for sustainability and eco-efficiency
AU - Elagouz, Noura
AU - Onat, Nuri C.
AU - Kucukvar, Murat
AU - Bulak, Muhammet E.
AU - Kutty, Adeeb A.
AU - Abulibdeh, Ammar
AU - Zaidan, Esmat
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105025437462
U2 - 10.1080/15568318.2025.2598005
DO - 10.1080/15568318.2025.2598005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105025437462
SN - 1556-8318
JO - International Journal of Sustainable Transportation
JF - International Journal of Sustainable Transportation
ER -