Title: Impact of road- and vehicle-related parameters on the energy efficiency of hybrid city buses

Authors: Stephanie Balters; Kai Scholz-Starke; Lutz Eckstein

Addresses: Institute for Automotive Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 7, 52074 Aachen, Germany ' Institute for Automotive Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 7, 52074 Aachen, Germany ' Institute for Automotive Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstraße 7, 52074 Aachen, Germany

Abstract: Owing to a reduction of energy consumption along with a decrease of pollutant gaseous and noise emissions, hybrid power train topologies have a high potential as eco-friendly and cost-efficient propulsion technology. The aim of this study is therefore to identify vehicle- and road-related parameters of hybrid city buses and to examine their impact on energy consumption. For this purpose an energy analysis of selected parameters, which affect the operation of public transport buses, namely bus stops, traffic signal priority, bus lanes, traffic density, and passenger load profile, is undertaken. Based on a mathematical model, the impact parameters can be quantified and their impact on energy consumption is measured with the aid of the simulation tool Matlab/Simulink. The consumption share of each parameter is analysed. With this methodology the potential savings of hybrid buses under urban traffic conditions through novel operating strategies can be identified.

Keywords: hybrid buses; road-related parameters; vehicle-related parameters; public transport; fuel consumption; impact factors; energy consumption; hybrid powertrain; traffic signal priority; bus stops; bus lanes; traffic density; passenger load; energy efficiency; hybrid electric vehicles; hybrid vehicles; urban transport; city buses; mathematical modelling; simulation; operating strategies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEHV.2015.071635

International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, 2015 Vol.7 No.3, pp.287 - 302

Received: 14 Dec 2013
Accepted: 31 May 2014
Published online: 08 Sep 2015 *

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