Abstract:

Phase II of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) India is envisioned to introduce 7,000 e-buses across the country by 2024. This initiative has increased e-bus deployment at a rapid rate. However, the traditional bus operators are not yet familiar with the operational needs of e-buses. Unlike traditional buses that require refuelling, e-buses need frequent recharging to increase their operational range. This key difference calls for setting up the necessary electric infrastructure to meet the charging demand of e-buses.

Charging even a small e-bus fleet would have a significant impact on the local power demand handled by the distribution companies (DISCOMs). Therefore, estimating the additional power demand generated by charging e-buses is crucial for DISCOMs to plan their infrastructure.

E-DEPOT (E-bus Depot Planning and Operations Tool) has been developed to aid the decision-making process of state transport undertakings (STUs) and DISCOMs, regarding the deployment of e-buses. This version of the Tool aims to assess the depot-based charging requirements, considering the existing fleet operations. It performs a feasibility analysis to identify schedules (buses on a specific route) that are suitable for e-bus deployment. The resultant power and energy consumption in charging these e-buses at the selected depots is also estimated. Hence, with the relevant inputs, this generic Tool can formulate e-bus charging plans for different Indian cities.