The transit industry is rapidly transitioning to electric buses because of the environmental and financial benefits they can offer, such as zero emissions, less noise, and lower maintenance costs. Electric buses also produce significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than diesel, diesel hybrid and natural gas-powered buses, which is good news for tackling our climate crisis. Led by Xiaoyue Cathy Liu of the University of Utah, NITC researchers have created a web-based modeling tool for the Utah Transit Authority that lets transit providers explore the impacts of changing their system over to electric buses. The tool allows agencies to plan the most effective way to transition while prioritizing environmental equity, focusing first on low-income areas with poor air quality. Developed a modeling tool for transit agencies to determine how best to deploy battery-electric buses and stations that is both cost effective and consistent with agencies equity goals.

"The blocking piece is one of the more unique and helpful elements of this tool. We are making investments based on her recommendations, from the model and the tool, for five more high-powered chargers in our system.... You can optimize to a lot of different factors using her model. It's a really good tool in that you can use in multiple ways to make better business decisions for both your agency and the community."
-Manager of Systems Planning and Project Development, Utah Transit Authority

Learn more about Bi-objective Optimization for Battery Electric Bus Deployment Considering Cost and Environmental Equity, led by Xiaoyue Cathy Liu of University of Utah.

Photo courtesy of TriMet