Mun-E-P (Municipal E-Bus Planner)

The Mun-E-P team is exploring the potential to develop decision making support software to facilitate the transition from diesel to electrified municipal bus services. Such software would use simulation and scenario modelling to analyse the operational requirements, carve out technical specifications, significantly reduce the complexities and maximise emissions reductions.

End users, which could include municipal offices or urban development, transport and traffic, as well as local public transport companies, could pay for the service to support responses to changing urban development and growing environmental concerns. The innovativeness of Mun-E-P lies in its attempt to include in one piece of software: a commercial traffic planning tool for macroscopic traffic modelling; and a model to simulate the power flow in electric buses to determine energy consumption and necessary charging infrastructure on routes. The software will, through simulation and scenario calculation, support decisions relating to type of energy source (opportunity charging, overnight charging, proton exchange membrane fuel cells), battery type (choice of technology, power/energy ratios, specifications), recharging infrastructure, fleet size, load profiles, operation strategies and operational planning. All of these factors will be central to developing efficient and effective transport services.