An Electric Bus Deployment Framework for Improved Air Quality and Transit Operational Efficiency
Public transit, compared with passenger cars, can effectively help conserve energy, reduce air pollution, and optimize flow on roadways. In recent years, Battery Electric Bus (BEB) is receiving an increasing amount of attention from transit vehicle industry and transit agencies due to recent advances in battery technologies and the direct environmental benefits it can offer (e.g. zero emission, less noise). However, limited efforts have been attempted on the effective deployment planning of BEB system due to the unique spatiotemporal features associated with the system itself (e.g. driving range, bus scheduling). In this project, the research team proposes to develop an innovative spatiotemporal analytical framework and web-based visualization platform to assist transit agencies in identifying the optimal deployment strategies for the BEB system by using a combination of mathematical programming methods, geographic information system (GIS)-based analysis, and multi-objective optimization techniques. The framework will allow transit agencies to optimally phase in BEB infrastructure and deploy the BEB system in a way that can minimize the capital and operational cost of BEB system while maximizing its environmental benefits (i.e. emission reduction). The team will engage three transit agencies - the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), TriMet, and Riverside Transit Agency (RTA), with the first two already in the planning phase of BEB deployment - to evaluate the usability of the platform. The web-based visualization platform will operationalize the framework and make it accessible to transit planners, decision-makers and the public. The proposed project fits the NITC theme on increasing access to opportunities, improving multi-modal planning, and developing data, models, and tools for better decision-making. The research will help transit agencies develop optimal deployment strategies for BEB systems, allowing planners and decision makers to create transportation systems that better serve livable and sustainable communities.
- Record URL:
Project
- Status: Proposed
- Funding: $329,940
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Contract Numbers:
NITC 1222
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 Urban Studies and Planning
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Oregon United States 97207Utah Science Technology and Research
Salt Lake City, United States 705 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA United States 98104University of California, Riverside
1084 Columbia Ave.
Riverside, CA United States 92507 -
Managing Organizations:
TREC at Portland State University
1900 SW Fourth Ave, Suite 175
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Oregon United States 97201 -
Project Managers:
Hagedorn, Hau
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Performing Organizations:
University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Department of Geography
Salt Lake City, UT United States 84112 Urban Studies and Planning
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Oregon United States 97207University of California, Riverside
1084 Columbia Ave.
Riverside, CA United States 92507 -
Principal Investigators:
Liu, Xiaoyue
Wei, Ran
- Start Date: 20181201
- Expected Completion Date: 20200331
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Air quality; Electric buses; Geographic information systems; Implementation; Optimization; Transit operating agencies; Visualization
- Identifier Terms: Riverside Transit Agency; TriMet (Portland, Oregon); Utah Transit Authority
- Subject Areas: Environment; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01674846
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: National Institute for Transportation and Communities
- Contract Numbers: NITC 1222
- Files: UTC, RiP
- Created Date: Jul 5 2018 1:55PM