Location and capacity decisions for electric bus charging stations considering waiting times

• Published in: Transportation research. Part D, Transport and environment Transport and environment, 2021-01, Vol.90, p.102645, Article 102645
• Main Authors: Uslu, Tugce, Kaya, Onur
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Charging station; Electric bus; Mixed integer mathematical model; Queuing; Waiting time
• ISSN: 1361-9209; 1879-2340
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2020.102645

•A model for location and capacity decisions for electric bus charging stations.•Network connectivity is ensured by considering the driving ranges of buses.•Limited waiting times at charging stations are modelled by queuing theory results.•Capacities and locations of charging stations are optimally determined.•A case study based on actual data of intercity electric bus networks is analyzed. This research proposes a mixed integer-linear mathematical model for location and capacity decisions of electric bus charging stations in order to ensure the connectivity of the road network throughout a certain region. The routes followed by electric buses in a country, demand in each route and driving ranges of electric buses are considered so as to determine the locations and capacities of charging stations under limited waiting time constraints. We implement the model on a case study for intercity bus networks in Turkey and use the actual data of coach companies. The results provide optimal locations and capacities of charging stations with minimum cost. Moreover, sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the effects of different parameters on the results. It is observed that driving ranges have the highest importance in the efficient use of electric buses, and charging durations, number of trips and service rates significantly affect capacities of stations.