Decision support tool aims to increase electric bus deployment
The University of Delft is developing an electric bus decision support tool for public transport operators, which it hopes will assuage fears and encourage the uptake of electric buses within European cities. The tool will show the range of various electric bus models including battery capacity and energy efficiency, the need for recharging facilities along specified routes, and the total system costs.
Despite a number of significant environmental benefits, electric buses are still seen by many as too cumbersome to invest in fully, with serious concerns remaining over the provision of charging infrastructure and battery life. Through the tool, the University of Delft hopes to make the process of evaluating investment opportunities around electric buses more manageable and quantifiable.
To investigate and anticipate the interest from the market in such a decision support tool, the University plans on conducting a 10 minute online-questionnaire among public transport operators and authorities in Europe. Those interested in taking part should contact j.w.konings@tudelft.nl. The tool is being developed as part of “Climate-KIC”, Europe’s largest public-private innovation partnership focused on tackling climate change.
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