Life Cycle Comparison of the Environmental and Economic Performance of an Informal Low-Capacity Passenger Transport System

Abstract

This research aims at providing more information concerning the performance of public transport means that exist in most underdeveloped countries from an environmental and economic perspective. This study compares autorickshaws, motorcycles, 14-passenger, and 29-passenger minibuses. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) and a life cycle cost analysis (LCC) for passenger transportation were carried out. The LCA analysis was carried out using the Center of Environmental Science, Leiden University (CML-IA) baseline impact assessment method. A cost model was developed to analyze the purchase, maintenance, and operation costs of passenger transportation. The LCA results reveal that in an informal transport system, lower-capacity vehicles have a better environmental performance per passenger-kilometer than higher passenger-capacity vehicles during off-peak hours. In the LCC analysis, motorcycles were revealed to be the most cost-inefficient alternative. Both LCA and LCC results show that the operational stage owing to fuel consumption has the highest impact on the environment and economy. To decrease the environmental and economic impacts of the transportation system, the first action should be focused on the operational stages of these types of vehicles.