3 minute read
Turku
6.1 Turku
Separately funded research project for e-bus follow-up
To utilize the data from various sensors in the e-bus, and to have a general view of the process encountered, a research program was launched.
The researchers at Turku University of Applied Sciences had full access to all data of the buses. Working time was allocated to the research personnel to keep track of e.g., daily distances driven, electricity consumption, number of recharging events, number of recharging problems, average speed etc.
The findings of this research project include, among other things, procurement and tendering processes, mileage accumulation, charging process description and problems related to it, energy consumption details, the total cost of ownership and environmental impacts. The results were reported in a separate publication.
We recommend the measure of competition between the bus drivers using their personal score to be implemented to energysaving eco-driving among the bus drivers.
E-bus training for the whole staff, separate eco-driving training for drivers
As a part of the procurement process of the e-buses, the whole operator staff (drivers, mechanics, towing staff and rescue workers) was trained to how to operate, maintain and handle the buses. At first, there was a plan to train only a part of the drivers to operate the e-buses. According to that plan, only the most motivated drivers would have been selected. However, because of the problems that would have been encountered in work shift planning due to this arrangement, it was abandoned.
The driver training was implemented in two parts. The first part took place before the actual launch of the e-bus service. The emphasis of this training period was on familiarizing the drivers with the everyday operation and recharging process of the e-buses.
The second part was implemented about a year later. The main emphasis of this training period was on economic driving to minimize electricity consumption. The eco-driving part was decided to be implemented at that time, because having a year of experience, the drivers were already used to the basic operation procedures of the e-buses. This means that their ability to adopt new driving style characteristics was assumed to be better than it would have been at the very beginning of the e-bus operation.
On-duty service to report charging device problems
There are two opportunity charging devices (300 kW each) with inverted (from-up-to-down) pantographs in Turku. The maintenance and repair of those is the responsibility of the cityowned company Turku Energy. The same company takes also care of the operation of the traffic lights in the city. For being able to solve the traffic light problems immediately in case of a malfunction, there is a 24/7 operating on-duty service.
The fault reporting of the e-bus recharging devices was connected to the existing on-duty system. The bus driver can call the already existing emergency number at any hour, and the repair personnel is on the way immediately. This has proven to shorten the downtime of the charging devices significantly, making the e-bus operation more reliable.
Public bus operator as a testing and monitoring platform
A publicly-owned bus operator company is a suitable party to act as a platform when new technologies and operating models are tested. This method provides publicly available information about the experience gained as well as data on actual costs. And if unexpected additional costs arise, a publicly owned company can handle the possible loss easier.
Turku City Transport Ltd was earlier the transport department of the city but acts nowadays as an independent bus operator that does not participate in transport tenders. This company was selected as the operator company implementing the electric bus pilot project that started the e-bus operation in Turku in October 2016.
