A two-step optimization process for efficient scheduling of heterogeneous fleets of electric buses with synchronized transfers

Abstract

Public transport systems are undergoing a significant change in most cities thanks to the advances in technology. The focus is not only on sustainability but also on efficiency and the experience of the passenger. In this work, we propose a complete redesign of the public transportation that considers a heterogeneous fleet of electric buses that dynamically changes in terms of the needs of each bus line at different hours, as well as a new bus schedule that minimizes passenger waiting time at bus stops by synchronizing different bus lines. In order to get optimal solutions, two optimization steps are needed. Preliminary results suggest that it is possible to implement an electrical bus fleet with different passenger and battery capacities that addresses the passenger demand, including the transfers on extensive trips where the users reduce travel times due to the synchronized schedule.