Comprehensive energy footprint of electrified fleets: School bus fleet case study

Abstract

This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for estimating the energy footprint and benefits of electrified vehicle fleets prior to their deployment. To support this analysis, it introduces a control-oriented electric bus simulator model that not only captures driving power requirements but also incorporates a thermal model for cabin behavior and a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling. By analyzing current bus routes and road terrain data, the energy demand and economic effects are estimated, taking into account the current operational characteristics of school buses. As a case study, it examines the potential advantages of electrifying school bus fleets in the Central School District in Ohio, USA, with a focus on energy savings and environmental impact reduction. Our findings suggest that transitioning to electric school buses could achieve up to 76% energy savings compared to gasoline buses and 67% energy savings compared to diesel buses. Economically, when converted to operational costs, this results in a savings of 52%–65% compared to gasoline and 27%–47% compared to diesel, depending on the specific price rate. The accuracy of our model is calibrated using actual operational data from school bus fleets. Furthermore, this study provides foundational insights into the charging requirements through the energy footprint analysis. This study contributes to the advancement of sustainable transportation by presenting comprehensive preliminary analysis results for vehicle electrification through a specific case study. It emphasizes the practical implementation of electric school buses and optimized vehicle efficiency, aligning with broader eco-friendly initiatives in the transportation sector.