Abstract:

Battery-powered electric vehicles enable zero-emission driving with low operating costs. In this paper, a battery operated electric taxicab fleet is simulated in a small city scenario using the agent-based transport simulation MATSim. The simulation results indicate no negative impact on the level of service provided by taxis in everyday operations when using electric cars. However, facing increased demand, conventionally operated taxi fleets may provide a better service and capable to serve sudden demand peaks. The simulation also demonstrates that every taxi rank only needs to be equipped with a small number of charging outlets. Under these circumstances, it may be useful from the passengers' perspective to dispatch those taxis with the highest battery charge level first. This paper shows that BEV may provide taxi operations in small cities at a high service level. In an everyday situation BEV usage is not likely to require significant changes in drivers’ or customers’ behaviours. Conventionally driven taxi fleets are however capable to serve sudden demand peaks better.