WRI Ross Center helps cities shift to more efficient and cleaner transport modes. We promote high-quality, integrated public transport systems that include bus rapid transit (BRT), urban buses, auto-rickshaws, bicycling and walking, as well as cleaner-burning fuels and electric vehicles.

Our sustainable urban mobility strategies include:

  1. Optimize efficiency: Support planning and implementation of higher fuel and vehicle efficiency standards and lower energy consumption and emissions from the transport sector through engagement and research.
  2. Electrify fuels: Support adoption of electric vehicles and the transition to electrified transport systems through localized research and direct engagement with stakeholders from multiple sectors.
  3. Integrate systems: Support implementation and management of integrated transport systems through directly influencing the planning and implementation of urban transport systems and publishing high-quality research.
  4. Shift and align funding and policy: Build capacity for sustainable transport through research, direct technical guidance, policy recommendations, and stakeholder engagement with the public, private, civil society, and donor communities.

Focus on Electric Vehicles

WRI Ross Center, along with WRI’s Energy and Climate Programs, is building on years of experience to expand our work on electric vehicles around the world. WRI is the lead for the Transport Working Group of the Low Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership, where we define and execute activities with member countries. Most activities are related to capacity-building in topics that include fuel economy and electrification of transport fleets.

We have also provided direct technical assistance to numerous governments and cities, including Bengaluru, Belo Horizonte, Contagem, Monterey, Medellín, São Paulo, Santiago and the national governments of Colombia and México.

In addition, past tools and reports include:

Adapting Procurement Models for Electric Buses in Latin AmericaPublication

This paper, published in “Transportation Research Record,” presents a new contractual model, based on literature and case study research. The new model suggests the separation of bus service responsibilities into three separate actors: multiple bus procurement companies; one or multiple bus depots and charging infrastructure companies; and multiple bus operating companies.

Emerging Trends and Innovations for Electric Bus Adoption—A Comparative Case Study of Contracting and Financing of 22 Cities in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and EuropePublicationWRI conducted a comparative multi-case study, published in "Research in Transportation Economics," to collect information on contracting and financing electric bus fleets. Results show that three key elements are seen in electric bus adoption across the globe, despite regional differences.
E-Bus Business Model Case StudiesOnline platformTo support other cities in their implementation, WRI conducted research on how 22 cities (26 cases) around the world made their transitions to electric bus fleets, using a business model lens. The work is now part of the Financing Sustainable Cities Initiative online platform, a partnership with C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and Citi Foundation.
Transport Emissions & Social Cost Assessment: Methodology GuidePublicationThis report and accompanying Excel-based tool can be used to estimate transport emissions inventories and evaluate associated social impact costs.
Exhaust Emissions of Transit Buses: Sustainable Urban Transportation Fuels and VehiclesPublicationWRI conducted a meta-analysis of sources on emissions for transit buses, showing there is a wide range of emissions values even for the same fuel and technology. The working paper aids in understanding these variations in order to more accurately evaluate results from further emissions testing.

Sustainable Urban Mobility Facts

  1. Bus rapid transit (BRT) is now in more than 190 cities worldwide and serves more than 31 million passengers each day.
  2. Rio de Janeiro’s TransOeste BRT reduces travel times by 50 percent for the average commuter.
  3. Line 3 of Mexico City's Metrobús BRT prevents the loss of 2,000 work days due to illness each year by reducing local air pollutant emissions. This saves the city $4.5 million each year.
  4. After the implementation of Raahgiri Day—a weekly car-free event in Gurgaon, India—28 percent of Raahgiri participants bought bicycles and 87 percent started walking or cycling for short trips.

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