Latin America has a very large vehicular fleet and in the last 10 years most of the countries have increased their transportation rates by 4.7%, on average. Since the vast majority of vehicles run on fossil fuels, if this is not controlled it will become an important factor contributing to pollution and environmental degradation for the whole planet. Because of this, it is very important to work towards a sustainable transport system (non-motorised transport and public transport being the main actors) and work together with urban planning through public policies that promote low-carbon technologies that contribute to a more environmentally friendly world.
In this context, Chile has set public transport replacement targets and expects to have 100% electric bus fleet by 2040. In addition to defining how an electric fleet of public transport is managed in the country, one of the main points to be solved in the transition towards electric bus fleets is to accurately measure the effect of the emissions reduction, establish whether or not they contribute to the mitigation of climate change, and quantify this reduction as well as the economic benefits for society. To answer these questions, the Climate and Clean Air Programme in Latin American Cities (CALAC+) has carried out a study entitled Life cycle analysis of electric buses in the Santiago public transport system (in Spanish)**, RED for the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, Ministry of Energy and Ministry of the Environment of Chile. This research provides significant data that contributes to decision-making in public policies for the promotion of electronic mobility.
