Implementation of electric buses into an existing public transit network: a Sri Lankan perspective

Abstract

On par with the rapid motorization in the national and international context, fuel consumption and emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) have become major challenges in the contemporary automotive industry. It is important to identify the core of sustainable transportation in adapting to new measures. Even though electric vehicles are sustainable the entire concept of mitigating transport issues is minimal. The option that is considered viable in the transport scenario is the electrification of public transit which has been analyzed in the Sri Lankan context throughout the study. United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on ‘Affordable and Clean Energy’ align directly with the aim and concept of the research study. Several approaches are utilized worldwide to mitigate fuel consumption and emission whereas Sri Lanka is still in the initial stages, especially in the adoption of e-mobility (including electric buses). Thus, the study analyzes the factors including financial, political and social attributes that have led to the slow progression of implementation of electric buses in the e-mobility context and the way forward to facilitate the adoption process in a successful manner via a clear Sri Lankan review of the current e-bus scenario and the need to accelerate the implementation process with stringent guidelines.