Technoeconomic Analysis of Charging and Heating Options for an Electric Bus Service in London

Abstract

This study explores electric bus (EB) operations for a bus depot in London. Operational data about speed, GPS coordinates, and electric motor performance are used to define accurate drive cycles and validate simulations. A validated vehicle simulation tool is used to estimate the power requirements of EBs over the defined drive cycles. The performance requirements for a practical system are set, and appropriate charging infrastructures for electrified bus operations are proposed. The number and location of charging points required within the area of service, their power transfer rates, and the capacity of the on-board battery for each charging option are determined. The effects of diesel heating versus electric heating are also analyzed. The power demands are calculated, and a cost model is built to assess the financial viability of the proposals. It is shown that the electrification of the two routes is technically feasible and financially viable when the opportunity charging approach is adopted. Such a system (EB operations for the bus depot) results in financial savings of approximately £1.7 million over a 14-year lifetime when compared to the conventional diesel buses. The use of EBs would result in aggregated CO2 savings of 48.2 kt between 2019 and 2050.