The Effect of Electric Vehicle Conversion in Public Transportation on Carbon Emissions in Turkey
Öz
This study examines the potential change in carbon emissions if diesel, LPG, and gasoline-powered vehicles used in public transportation in Turkey were converted to fully electric vehicles. The Tier 2 approach and the Well-to-Wheel (WTW) method were applied in the emission calculations. It is calculated that if all internal combustion engine public transportation vehicles in Turkey were converted to fully electric vehicles, total carbon emissions would decrease from 12,521.57 GgCO₂ to 7,209.55 GgCO₂. This result indicates that electrification in the public transportation sector could reduce carbon emissions by approximately 42.4%. Furthermore, this reduction is expected to increase further if the energy production profile is transformed and the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation is increased. The obtained data demonstrate that the transition to electric vehicles could play a decisive role in achieving Turkey's 2053 Net Zero Carbon targets and could significantly contribute to sustainable transportation policies.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Carbon emissions, electric vehicle, public transportation, sustainable transportation, Tier 2 method, well-to-wheel analysis.
Kaynakça
- International Energy Agency. (2023). Tracking transport 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2025, from https://www.iea.org/reports/tracking-transport-2023
- Sorrell, S. (2015). Reducing energy demand: A review of issues, challenges and approaches. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 47, 74–82. doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.03.002
- Creutzig, F., Jochem, P., Edelenbosch, O. Y., Mattauch, L., van Vuuren, D. P., McCollum, D., & Minx, J. (2015). Transport: A roadblock to climate change mitigation? Science, 350(6263), 911–912.doi.org/10.1126/science.aac8033
- Sims, R., et al. (2014). Transport. In Climate change 2014: Mitigation of climate change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC. Cambridge University Press.
- Jochem, P., Babrowski, S., & Fichtner, W. (2015). Assessing CO₂ emissions of electric vehicles in Germany in 2030. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 78, 68–83. doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2015.05.007
- Sakaoğlu, E., Akbaş, T., & Ak, M. (2025). Future transportation alternatives: Economic and environmental assessment of battery and fuel cell vehicles. KIU Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2(1), 48–62. doi.org/10.64330/kiufemte.1615151
- Yalılı Kılıç, M., Dönmez, T., & Adalı, S. (2021). Change in carbon footprint due to fuel consumption in road transport: The case of Çanakkale. Gümüşhane University Journal of Science and Technology, 11(3), 943–955. doi.org/10.17714/gumusfenbil.848016
- Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). (2025). Greenhouse gas emission statistics, 1990–2023. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Sera-Gazi-Emisyon-Istatistikleri-1990-2023-53974
- Mishina, Y., & Muromachi, Y. (2017). Are potential reductions in CO₂ emissions via hybrid electric vehicles actualized in real traffic? The case of Japan. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 50, 372–384. doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2016.11.019
- Hofmann, J., Guan, D., Chalvatzis, K., & Huo, H. (2016). Assessment of electrical vehicles as a successful driver for reducing CO₂ emissions in China. Applied Energy, 184, 995–1003. doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.042