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Integrated Environmental, Energy, and Economic Assessment of Electric Taxi Fleet Electrification: A Case Study of Denizli, Türkiye

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Taxi fleets operate intensively, accumulate high annual mileage, and contribute disproportionately to urban greenhouse gas emissions, making them attractive candidates for transport electrification. Despite growing interest in electric mobility, integrated evaluations of the environmental, energy, and economic implications of taxi fleet electrification remain limited, particularly for medium-sized cities in Türkiye. This research examines the replacement of the commercial taxi fleet operating in the central districts of Denizli with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) through a framework that integrates operational emission estimation, electricity demand, charging infrastructure, and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA). Operational emissions were quantified using the IPCC Tier 1 fuel-based approach together with a distance-based consistency check. Under the adopted assumptions, electrification reduced annual operational CO2 emissions by 4217.48 tCO2 (57.9%). The electrified fleet required 18.36 MWh of electricity per day (6.70 GWh annually), while estimated peak charging demand varied between 1.22 MW and 5.57 MW, depending on the charging strategy. Economic evaluation showed a positive net present value (NPV) of 1.32 million TL per vehicle, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 80.86%, and a discounted payback period (DPP) of 1.37 years. Although profitability varied with energy prices, vehicle costs, and annual mileage, fleet electrification remained economically feasible across all scenarios considered. These results suggest that electrifying commercial taxi fleets can support urban decarbonization while remaining financially attractive when accompanied by appropriate charging infrastructure and coordinated transport planning.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su18178657

Authors: Dolunay Zengin, Mehmet Çakmak, Soner Haldenbilen

Institution: Pamukkale University

Language: English

Topic: Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896