Urban Bus Electrification as a Common
Good Agenda: Governance, Public Value,
and Socio-Technical Coordination in Brazil
Raquel Teixeira Gomes Magri1; Pablo de Freitas Hernandez2; João Guilherme Ito Cypriano3; Flávio Tonioli Mariotto4; Flávia Luciane Consoni5; Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva6 Purpose
The transport sector remains a major source of energy-related greenhouse gas
emissions, while urban mobility systems continue to reproduce environmental, social, and
public health problems associated with fossil-fuel dependence. In this context, battery electric
buses (BEBs) have emerged as a promising alternative for decarbonising public transport,
improving air quality, and enhancing the quality of urban mobility services. In Brazil, this
transition is particularly relevant, as bus trips fell by 44.1% over the last decade, intensifying
the circulation of private light vehicles and worsening congestion, emissions, and public health
impacts (CNT, 2025).
Despite this potential, the implementation of BEBs still faces major barriers to largescale
adoption, including high upfront costs, uncertainty regarding lifecycle competitiveness, read more
Purpose
The intensification of climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have placed vehicle electrification at the center of global decarbonization strategies, especially in countries where transportation is a major driver of emissions. In this context, Brazil faces a crucial moment as it seeks to align the main propulsion technology of vehicles with climate goals while having a complex institutional, technological, and productive landscape.
This research aims to analyze how different technological trajectories for the electrification of passenger vehicles may shape the Brazilian automotive sector. Based on the elaboration of three SWOT matrices, the study examines the main alternatives available: (i) a trajectory led by battery electric vehicles (BEVs), (ii) a trajectory centered on hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and (iii) a scenario of technological coexistence among BEVs, HEVs, and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). read more
