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Orhan Topal

of minibuses, double-decker buses and trolley buses (UITP, 2020). In addition,
as for the fuel, it is stated that diesel fuel used in these fleets accounts for 50%;
diesel fuel with some additives or biodiesel for 22%, and CNG for 10,5%.
Electric buses on the basis of this study corresponds to 18% of the total fleet
1
(Saeidizand, 2019).
The orientation towards electric buses in the traditional procurement /
tender process (for buses) in public transportation operators brings forward
the search for different business models. Even, the electric buses used in
urban public transportation systems are more costly by 100-150% based on
2
the initial purchase costs compared to the widely used diesel buses with the
same quality (Topal, 2018). This situation, which is one of the main obstacles
to the expansion of electric vehicles, negatively affects the decision makers
for the supply of electric buses, especially for purchases made by the public.
Within the framework of the applicable laws in Türkiye, there are no incentives
or support mechanisms for the purchase of electric buses in public transport
systems (Öner, 2020).
Rubber-wheeled public transportation services are carried out by public
and private operators in Türkiye. In this sense, private enterprises mostly
perform individual procurement for the supply of the buses, while public
authorities / enterprises prefer traditional public procurement methods. In
traditional approaches, the initial purchase cost of buses is mainly based
on and public equities are used. In addition to the procurement costs of
buses for public transportation operators, operational costs such as fuel
and maintenance & repair expenses are among the important cost items.
According to IETT General Directorate datas (İstanbul Electric Tramway and
Tunnel Establishments-İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality), the driver costs
for the average 66,000 km/month-vehicle performance indicator correspond
to about 51% of other fixed costs, and fuel and maintenance & repair cost
corresponds to 66% of total costs (Cora et al., 2021) (İBB, 2020).
Unlike the traditional procurement methods in public transportation
systems, a long-term bus procurement method offering 5-year guarantee
including the maintenance & repair process of buses, which was realised by
IETT General Directorate in 2012 for the first time in Türkiye and in the world,
is based on the procurement of both goods and services at the same time,
which differs from standard public procurement methods (IETT, 2013). This
model still serves as a role model for other public institutions.

1 Consisting of battery electric buses by 6.3%, hybrid buses by 8.7%, trolley buses by 3%.
2 Realised public tenders are based on; this rate varies according to the brand/model, mainte-
nance&repair and charging concept included in the scope of the tender.

306 Journal of Environment, Urbanization and Climate