Gozo

Logbook for monitoring the trip and driver feedback

In 2019, Malta Public Transport (MPT) launched Malta’s first fully electric bus in conjunction with Transport Malta and TAM-Europe. The project aimed to assess the efficiency and adaptability of the bus to the Maltese roads, which are characterized by their hilly terrain and frequent stops. To assess the performance of the bus, all the operation characteristics needed to be provided.

A logbook was created to keep track of the performance of the electric bus. This logbook enabled MPT to monitor the operation of all the trips done. The performance measures included route information, the operation time, distance travelled and consumption of charge (charge initial and charge final) for each trip. In this logbook, the drivers could write their feedback on the driving experience of the e-bus.

This feedback included any issues encountered during the trip such as hard suspension, turning and hand-brake issues. This logbook enabled MPT to compare the performance of the electric bus on different routes and during different times of the day. This was necessary to assess the ability of the bus to operate on certain routes under certain conditions (like traffic and high temperatures).

During the pilot project, the data collected from this logbook was very useful for MPT to take informed decisions for the future. There are plans for the electrification of the public transport fleet in the future.

In this logbook, the drivers could write their feedback on the driving experience of the e-bus.

Pre-testing as training for drivers and technicians prior to the pilot project

During the pilot project in 2019 an electric bus was tested in the Maltese islands for the first time. The driving technique, operational characteristics and the problem-solving techniques of e-buses were still new to the transport operator staff. The pre-testing served as training for the staff to familiarize themselves to e-buses.