Abstract (only for articles in Portuguese and Spanish)
This study aims to assess and quantify the potential for CO2 mitigation in the road freight transportation resulting from the adoption of technologies for promoting (a) the reduction of fuel consumption and (b) the gradual replacement of diesel by biodiesel. In both cases, the baseline emission was estimated. In sequence, it were performed simulations that allowed to build the emission curve as a function of technological advances aimed to increasing energy efficiency or replacing diesel by biodiesel. The main parameters used to measure emissions were the distance traveled, the quantity of cargo transported, and the fuel consumption. Primary data were collected from carriers, comprising a sample of 145 vehicles. The main results indicate that an increase of 0.5 km/l in the fleet efficiency reduces about 20% the GHG emissions. However, the potential for mitigation through increased biodiesel content is not so promising, especially due to a poorer vehicle performance and, as a consequence, an increase in consumption. In this context, the results indicate that efforts seeking to reduce fuel consumption of heavy-duty fleet can contribute more effectively to reduce GHG emissions that replacing diesel by biodiesel.
Key words:
CO2 emission; greenhouse gases – GHG; road freight transportation; fuel consumption; biodiesel