An optimal design for public electric bus system based on Differential Evolution Algorithm

Abstract

This paper proposes an optimal design of public electric vehicle system with minimizing investment costs associated with infrastructure and operating conditions. Specifically, the proposed strategy is supposed to provide electric bus systems with cost-effectiveness. To demonstrate a case study, the existing electric bus system of Khon Kaen University is selected as a model for our investment analysis. The investment cost consists of two significant costs: the investment cost of charging station infrastructure and the investment cost of onboard batteries. The proposed design aims to optimize these costs based on two key parameters: the conditional boundary state of charge (SOCch) and the charging time (Tch). To achieve the optimal solution, we utilize a Differential Evolution Algorithm (DE) for cost optimization, comparing the results to those obtained through Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The results indicate that our DE-based approach can reduce 14.54% of the total investment cost of the electric bus system compared to the results of PSO approach. Moreover, the designed charging waiting time can provide an efficient bus schedule that accurately reflects actual service periods. Overall, our findings suggest that the proposed strategy can effectively promote the adoption of electric bus systems as a more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable transportation option.