Education in the Transit

Analysis of Economic-Driving Program Implemented in a Public Transport Bus Company

Abstract

The growing number of motor vehicles in urban areas has generated negative impacts on costs for users and bus operators due to congestion and the increase in travel time. Furthermore, transport sector is a significant user of energy, especially fuel, and a great responsible for greenhouse emissions. In order to mitigate these externalities, transport companies try to incorporate into their processes innovative tools and best practices in management, like the so-called economic-driving. The economic-driving seeks to reduce fuel consumption, greenhouse emissions and operational costs. This paper aims to present the results of an economic-driving program implemented in a public transport bus company in Brazil, in the period of 2010-2016. The methodologies used were exploratory, descriptive and case study. The results showed a reduction of fuel consumption by 786.336 liters. The analysis of the consumption of brake linings in eleven buses, running the same itineraries by the same drivers, decreased 47.46%. Based on the Embrapa’s methodology for the calculation of greenhouse emissions the company stopped emitting 86,757.36 kilo grams of CO₂ in the atmosphere. In conclusion, the case study confirmed the feasibility of applying economic-driving strategies and the economic and social advantages with the program for the company.