Getting Around Town on an Electric Shuttle Bus
Electric shuttle buses are gaining ground as airports seek cleaner alternatives to diesel-powered buses. The switch to these zero-emission options reduces harmful air pollution and improves public health, especially for those with respiratory illnesses like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Early adopters are curbing emissions and leading the way towards zero-emission shuttle bus services. This article provides insights into the various aspects of these battery-powered vehicles, including their range, charging time, routes and fares.
Battery Life
When considering an electric shuttle bus, the battery life of the vehicle is an important consideration. Most lithium-ion batteries have a range of about 150 miles. However, this depends on the type of battery and the charging station. For example, an overhead system may be more efficient than an under-the-road charger.
In addition, the speed at which a bus can travel on battery power is also affected by its battery chemistry. For example, fast charge chemistry may require more frequent charging than the chemistry used in long-range batteries.
While some electric buses can carry as much as 350 miles on a single charge, others only have an 80-mile range. This is a problem because many transit systems operate on routes that don’t have enough time to recharge their vehicles when they run low on energy.
This has posed a challenge for researchers trying to increase the battery lifetime of electric shuttles. One method is to use a kinetic energy storage system (KESS).
A KESS increases the battery’s power output by storing it in a flywheel, which has the Electric shuttle bus added benefit of spinning more quickly. This can significantly improve the battery’s life.
Various flywheel sizes and driving cycles were simulated to assess their influence on the battery’s life. Finally, a battery/flywheel hybrid energy storage system was implemented in a bus and the results showed a 20% increase in battery lifetime.
It should be noted that the aforementioned results are based on a single bus and its operating conditions. It is not possible to estimate the exact impact of such a system on an individual electric shuttle bus, but these results show that a KESS-based battery/flywheel hybrid energy storage system could have a significant effect on the overall lifetime of the battery.
The main benefit of an electric shuttle bus is its low maintenance costs and a lower fuel cost than a diesel-powered bus. This is because electric motors don’t need to be oiled or replaced as often as their gasoline-powered counterparts.
For transit agencies looking to reduce their carbon footprint, electric shuttles are an excellent choice. They are clean, green and eco-friendly, and they provide a smooth ride for passengers. They are also more reliable and less expensive to operate than their diesel-powered counterparts.
Charging Time
Electric shuttle buses can be charged on a regular basis to maximize the use of their batteries. It’s a simple process: an EV bus plugs into a charging station and then carries out the recharge by storing energy in its batteries.
It can take up to four hours for an e-bus to be fully charged with a 150 kW AC charger, but DC fast-chargers are much faster. It’s important to choose a fast-charge solution that’s compatible with your vehicle’s battery chemistry, so your EV school bus can be recharged in the fastest possible time.
For example, the Jouley EV school bus can be recharged in just under three hours with a DC fast-charger. This short charge time allows you to avoid operations headaches, such as late arrivals or early dismissals, and ensures that your students have a smooth, convenient ride every time.
DC fast-chargers also allow you to charge during periods when rates are cheapest, so you can save money on fuel costs. However, it’s important to remember that these charge times can be impacted by demand charges (the cost of electricity during peak use).
A better option is to invest in a fast-charge solution that uses ultracapacitors instead of batteries. This technology has proven itself to be robust, environmentally friendly and safe. It can handle frequent charge/discharge cycles and is suited for high-volume traffic.
Compared to a battery, ultracapacitors need no overnight charging and can be charged in minutes instead of hours. Moreover, they have no fire risk and retain their performance at temperatures between -40 and 60 degrees Celsius.
In addition, their lifetime is significantly extended because they have no harmful or toxic components, present no pollution hazard and do not generate any hidden end-of-life disposal costs. They’re also safer and more affordable than traditional battery options.
Electrifying your fleet with an electric shuttle bus is a great way to lower emissions and energy costs. It will help your community to move closer toward the Paris Climate Accord. Learn more about how to get started and explore your options at the Alternative Fuels Data Center.
Routes
The electric shuttle bus is a new Electric shuttle bus and environmentally friendly way to transport passengers to and from airports, parking lots, corporate campuses, universities and more. Electrification offers numerous benefits over traditional bus fleets, including significant savings in total cost of ownership, zero emissions and increased safety.
A number of cities have been testing and deploying battery-electric buses to reduce emissions and improve air quality. These innovations are helping to make cities more sustainable and livable, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).
In October, the Port Authority embraced the Paris Climate Agreement and announced a commitment to the Clean Dozen environmental program that would cut greenhouse gas emissions 35 percent by 2025 and advance the agency’s goal of an 80-percent reduction in emissions by 2050. In addition, the Port Authority has been testing new ways to reduce energy consumption.
One of those efforts is the transition to an all-electric shuttle bus fleet at the Port Authority’s major regional airports. In February 2019, the agency began converting 50 percent of its daily shuttle bus fleet at JFK, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia Airport to all-electric power.
While these airports are leading the way in the electric shuttle bus movement, there are many other public and private transit agencies around the world that are putting this technology to use. Some of these include the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, which is currently testing 3 all-electric shuttle buses on various routes around Providence.
Another example is the city of Auckland, which started a trial in February 2019 with two all-electric Alexander Dennis Enviro200 shuttles on its City Link service. This is the first time an all-electric shuttle bus has run on a route in Auckland.
Additionally, the city of Taurage, Norway, has launched a pilot project with three electric buses on its rural routes. In September 2019, Vilnius, Lithuania, began using four Karsan Jest electric buses on its suburban routes.
Rockaway’s transit deserts are not without solutions for those who live in the area, as Rideshare company Circuit has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to develop a proposal that would bring free electric shuttle bus service to the community. This new bus service could be used by non-residents, who can pay for fares through a phone app, and residents would only need to buy a ticket at a kiosk located in building lobbies and senior housing.
Fares
Whether you’re a newcomer or a local, getting around town on an electric shuttle bus is a cinch. They’re also environmentally friendly, which means less pollution for you and your fellow passengers. Fortunately, there are plenty of electric buses in operation around the country, and some of them even offer a slew of cool features, from onboard WiFi to charging stations for your phone.
To be fair, though, figuring out the actual price of a ride on an electric shuttle isn’t as simple as just hopping on and off as you would with a standard bus or light rail. There are many factors at play, such as the location of the vehicle, how long it’s been used and the number of passengers it can handle. Depending on the size of the vehicle, the cost may be as low as a couple of dollars or as high as a few thousand.
A more affordable option is the pay-per-ride scheme, where passengers can purchase tickets at one of over 300 ticket machines located throughout the city. The most logical way to pay is with the SFMTA’s clipper card, but you can also opt for cash or the slickest of all: a transit pass.
The fare varies according to route, but it’s always free for the first three rides on an SFMTA bus or light rail vehicle, then $4 for each additional trip. You can buy a pass online or at the SFMTA’s ticket kiosks at selected locations.
The most coveted award goes to the aforementioned city’s citywide community shuttle, which trumps any other transportation option for its ability to get you from point A to B in a stylish and environmentally friendly way. Its nifty touches include free Wi-Fi and chargers for your smartphone, along with an app that lets you request a pick-up or wave down the closest driver. It’s also the most efficient mode of transport in the city, taking up to a third of the space of a typical bus or light rail vehicle.