Abstract:

The broad goal of this study is to support transitions to zero-emission bus fleets and identify the least-cost approaches for widespread procurement and deployment of these technologies. This is important because there are unique operational considerations with respect to charging strategies and the driving range of battery electric buses that are not typically associated with conventionally powered buses. This paper is focused on Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The authors employ vehicle simulation software to develop methods for calculating route-specific energy usage for electric buses. Using vehicle simulation software, this research proposed a way for undertaking route-level energy consumption and performance modelling for electric buses. The modeling approach was used to investigate the influence of several parameters, such as passenger load and accessory power consumption, on energy consumption and driving range. Comparisons of the estimated electric bus driving range with current BMTC diesel bus operations found that the modeled electric bus technology delivered sufficient range to match or exceed daily kilometers traveled on most urban routes.