IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/pubtra/v16y2024i1d10.1007_s12469-023-00345-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Planning a zero-emission mixed-fleet public bus system with minimal life cycle cost

Author

Listed:
  • Nathalie Marion Frieß

    (University of Graz)

  • Ulrich Pferschy

    (University of Graz)

Abstract

The variety of available technology options for the operation of zero-emission bus systems gives rise to the problem of finding an optimal technology decision for bus operators. Among others, overnight charging, opportunity charging and hydrogen-based technology options are frequently pursued technological solutions. As their operating conditions are strongly influenced by the urban context, an optimal technology decision is far from trivial. In this paper, we propose an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) based optimization model that is built upon a broad input database, which allows a customized adaption to local circumstances. The ultimate goal is to determine an optimal technology decision for each bus line, considering its combined effects on charging and vehicle scheduling as well as infrastructural design. To this end, we develop technology-specific network representations for five distinct technologies. These networks can be viewed individually or as a multi-layered graph, which represents the input for the optimal technology mix. The proposed optimization framework is applied to a real-world instance with more than 4.000 timetabled trips. To study the sensitivity of solutions, parameter changes are tested in a comprehensive scenario design. The subsequent analysis produces valuable managerial insights for the bus operator and highlights the decisive role of certain planning assumptions. The results of our computations reveal that the deployment of a mixed fleet can indeed lead to financial benefits. The comparison of single technology system solutions provides a further basis for decision making and demonstrates relative superiorities between different technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathalie Marion Frieß & Ulrich Pferschy, 2024. "Planning a zero-emission mixed-fleet public bus system with minimal life cycle cost," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 39-79, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:pubtra:v:16:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s12469-023-00345-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s12469-023-00345-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12469-023-00345-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12469-023-00345-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:pubtra:v:16:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s12469-023-00345-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.