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, lire la suite
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). lire la suite
For over a decade, the automotive industry has been undergoing a disruptive transformation driven by the adoption of new production methods and the entry of new players, including both companies and countries, into vehicle manufacturing. This process reflects a structural transformation marked by the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), the use of lithium-ion batteries, and the integration of digital technologies—key elements of the new paradigm of sustainable transportation. Within this context, a renewed struggle for hierarchy in the energy transition emerges (Gracia Santos, Paz, Rísquez Ramos, 2024), generating new power dynamics in the configuration of global production and supply chains.
This global reconfiguration is transforming the socio-economic and environmental foundations underpinning the international division of labour, paving the way for an accumulation regime centred on “platform capitalism” (Srnicek, 2018) and a new global consensus—the “decarbonisation consensus”—that promotes the transition to a new energy matrix (Bringel and Svampa, 2023). lire la suite
The profile of new automotive vehicle owners is changing globally due to the development of information technologies which enabled the emergence of new mobility services in recent years (Ferrero et al., 2018). Today, apart from a multitude of public modes of transport in place in many cities, individuals can opt from renting a vehicle for short routes, sharing a trip, or ordering on-demand trip (i.e., offered by taxi or ride-hailing services) for a much lower price compared to only two decades ago (Prieto et al., 2017). The availability of such alternatives caused many people to avoid owning an automobile (Schaefers et al., 2016). To give an example of the relevance of this phenomenon, the market share of automobiles and commercial light vehicles sold in Brazil to car rental companies increased from 19.0% in 2018 to 30.1% in 2022 according to ABLA, the Brazilian Vehicle Rental Association (ABLA, 2023). lire la suite
30th International Colloquium of Gerpisa
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Jorge Carreto, Alejandra Patiño, Jazmín Solares
