Simulation and Comparison on Energy Consumption between Electric and Diesel Buses: Feasibility Study on Electric Rubber-Tire Bus Potential in Chiang Mai

Abstract

The objective of this study is to simulate and compare the energy consumption between electric and diesel rubber-tire buses suitable for operating in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The dynamic vehicle model together with the velocity and road gradient profiles measured along the real selected road in Chiang Mai were simulated following the backward-facing scheme to find the power of electric motor and diesel engine for the electric bus and diesel bus, respectively. For the electric bus, energy consumption per route, energy consumption per distance, and electricity price were calculated. In a case of the diesel bus, the theoretical diesel cycle model was additionally considered following the forward-facing scheme to determine the diesel consumption and then it was finally converted into energy consumption per route, energy consumption per distance, and diesel price. The simulated results showed that the total energy consumption and energy consumption rate of the electric bus equaled to 10.004 kWh/route and 1.112 kWh/km, respectively. These values were economically equivalent to be 1.250 USD/route and 0.139 USD/km, respectively. For a case of the diesel bus, the total energy consumption and energy consumption rate were 17.256 kWh/route and 1.917 kWh/km, respectively, in turn, they were 1.543 USD/route and 0.171 USD/km, respectively in economic point of view. Finally, the electrical bus has significantly lower energy consumption and lower cost than the diesel bus for 42% and 19%, respectively.