Hybrid Vehicles for Nablus Intra-City Public Transportation: An Environmental and Economic Feasibility Study
| dc.contributor.author | Sharif Bassam Salman | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-21T07:55:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-08-21T07:55:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-09-21 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Abstract Background: There is a worldwide concern about the serious increase in exhaust emissions from vehicles that use traditional fuels, such as diesel, and the rise in fuel prices. Palestine is no exception. Nablus, the second largest city after East Jerusalem, has several types of topography, and suffers from traffic congestion. Within its urban area, traffic flows at low speeds, and drivers are normally forced to stop-and-go operation. This increases fuel consumption and the emission of exhaust gases of the diesel - operated public transport (PT) vehicles. Objective: Against this background, this thesis explores the possibility of introducing alternative fuel vehicles (hybrid vehicles) particularly to Nablus urban public transportation. Methodology: Interviews were conducted and a questionnaire was administered to a randomly chosen sample of PT drivers and route managers to obtain the operational characteristics of PT route and its associated costs and expenses. The existing financial aspects and environmental impacts of diesel vehicles were also analyzed. Results: Three scenarios were developed. The first scenario is replacing old cars (2009 or older) with hybrid vehicles. This scenario would provide 17.5% to 31% saving of fuel on an average of 20.9% for all PT routes, and reduction of exhausts CO by 33%, CH+NO by 88%, and PM by 93%. The second scenario is replacing all vehicles produced between 2009-2014. This scenario would save 15% of fuel and reduce exhaust gases by 35%. This gives this scenario an importance in the long run, and there is no urgency for implementation at present. Finally, the third scenario is replacing old diesel vehicles with 7-passenger vans. This would save 31% of fuel on the economic side, and lead to a 33% reduction in exhaust gases in general. Conclusions: The comparison between the three scenarios shows preference for the first scenario at present, while implementing other scenarios gradually. The first scenario is simple and close to reality, as old vehicle should typically be replaced; therefore, the study concluded that it would achieve financial and environmental benefits if PT went hybrid. The study recommends setting up national level policies to encourage the use of alternative fuels, with particular focus on public transportation. At the same time, such policies should also include the transportation sector, in general. Keywords: Public transport (PT), Vehicles, Emission, Hybrid, Diesel. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/19402 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.supervisor | Dr. Khaled Al-Sahili | |
| dc.title | Hybrid Vehicles for Nablus Intra-City Public Transportation: An Environmental and Economic Feasibility Study | |
| dc.type | Thesis |