Balancing biofuels and electrification: Carbon neutrality pathways of Brazilian light vehicle fleet

IF 7.3 1区工程技术 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Transportation Research Part D-transport and Environment Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.trd.2024.104566

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro Lima , Joaquim Eugênio Abel Seabra , Marcelo Pereira Cunha

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Abstract

This study evaluated pathways for Brazil’s light vehicle fleet to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, considering local benefits and existing technologies. Four scenarios explore government policies promoting biofuels and/or electrification. Results indicate a 74% increase in emissions under Business as Usual (BAU), requiring vast land for offsetting, versus a 62% reduction with Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Biofuels. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) projections diverge by 2030, with higher costs for full electrification by 2050. Abatement costs favor the biofuels approach economically, emphasizing ethanol’s role as a carbon sink. Prioritizing plug-in hybrid vehicles with ethanol could leverage existing infrastructure and reduce battery imports, smoothing the transition to full electrification. The study highlights the economic and environmental trade-offs in Brazil’s journey to carbon neutrality, advocating for a balanced approach integrating biofuels and electrification to maximize benefits and ensure sustainability in the automotive sector.

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来源期刊

Transportation Research Part D-transport and Environment 工程技术-运输科技

CiteScore

14.40

自引率

9.20%

发文量

314

审稿时长

39 days

期刊介绍： Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment focuses on original research exploring the environmental impacts of transportation, policy responses to these impacts, and their implications for transportation system design, planning, and management. The journal comprehensively covers the interaction between transportation and the environment, ranging from local effects on specific geographical areas to global implications such as natural resource depletion and atmospheric pollution. We welcome research papers across all transportation modes, including maritime, air, and land transportation, assessing their environmental impacts broadly. Papers addressing both mobile aspects and transportation infrastructure are considered. The journal prioritizes empirical findings and policy responses of regulatory, planning, technical, or fiscal nature. Articles are policy-driven, accessible, and applicable to readers from diverse disciplines, emphasizing relevance and practicality. We encourage interdisciplinary submissions and welcome contributions from economically developing and advanced countries alike, reflecting our international orientation.