RoutΣ.i™

To serve our national consortium, CUTRIC developed RoutΣ.i™ – an industry-leading electric bus & transit simulation tool that allows transit agencies to accurately predict the performance of battery electric buses (BEBs) with various charging strategies (in-depot, on route, and combined solutions), as well as hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) with H2 fuelling time and delivery strategies.

• For Battery Electric Buses (BEBs), RoutΣ.i™ predicts vehicle and fleet range, charging needs, total energy and power needs, total energy costs, CO2e reductions, and scheduling challenges/optimization to support effective BEB charging requirements.
• For Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses (FCEBs), RoutΣ.i™ predicts vehicle and fleet range based on hydrogen fuel parameters, fuelling time needs, total energy needs, total energy costs, CO2e reductions based on the source of H2, and scheduling challenges/optimization to support effective FCEB fuelling requirements. 
• For electric Low-Speed Autonomous Shuttles (e-LSAs), RoutΣ.i™ predicts vehicle and fleet range, charging needs, total energy and power needs, total energy costs, CO2e reductions, scheduling challenges/optimization to support effective e-LSA fleet deployments for first kilometre/last kilometre requirements.

CUTRIC’s RoutΣ.i™ research team can complete feasibility assessments on a block-based or route-based format.

For full fleet analysis, CUTRIC always recommends block-based analysis inclusive of pull in, pull out, and deadheading requirements to generate a full picture of the energy consumption and charging requirements of your transit system.

Importantly, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has supported the development of this tool this year, by enabling CUTRIC to validate its results against the performance of BEBs operating in Toronto’s Jane 35 route which is currently partially electrified. The RoutΣ.i™ tool has produced results predicting performance within 1.5% deviation from TTC’s actual results.

Over the past 36 months, CUTRIC has simulated more than 25 transit agency blocks or routes, including full and partial fleets deployments assuming BEB and FCEBs and their varying charging and fuelling solutions.

Some examples of CUTRIC RoutΣ.i™ work includes the following transit agency members, cities and clients of CUTRIC:

1. Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) / City of Toronto [partial fleet, block-based & route-based], BEBs, partial-FCEBs, e-LSAs
2. Le Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC), BEBs & e-LSAs
3. Riverside Transit (California) [full fleet, block-based], BEBs & FCEBs
4. Orange County Transit (California) [full fleet, block-based], BEBs & FCEBs
5. Grand River Transit (GRT), [full fleet, route-based], BEBs
6. London Transit, Rapid Transitway [route-based], BEBs
7. Brampton Transit [route-based], BEBs & e-LSAs
8. TransLink [route-based], BEBs
9. York Region Transit [route-based], BEBs, FCEBs & e-LSAs
10. City of Vancouver [route-based], e-LSA
11. City of Surrey [route-based], e-LSA
12. City of Calgary [route-based], e-LSA
13. City of Edmonton [route-based], e-LSA
14. City of Trois-Rivières/Société de Transport de Trois-Rivières (STTR), [route-based], FCEBs & e-LSAs
15. City of Montréal, [route-based], e-LSAs

The cost of these studies has varied between $14,000 – $180,000 CAD depending upon the variables and complexity assessed, including the size of the fleet (number of blocks; complexity of blocks), interlining intensity, number of makes and models of BEBs and FCEBs included (i.e. differing battery pack and motor specifications, etc.), number of makes and models of charging solutions (i.e. differing power levels, 150-600 kW, efficiency measures, etc.), and scheduling optimization assessment needs.

CUTRIC believes in collaborative research approaches; we integrate your transit agency and local utility in every critical decision made through the modelling process given the number of variables that affect the outcomes of your study.

Action

To help our team plan for your transit agency timing needs in 2020 (i.e. to ensure we can produce your results in time for your Transit Commission or City Council presentations for funding), contact:

Parvathy Pillai: Project Manager: ZEB Simulation & Commercialization (parvathy.pillai[at]cutric-crituc.org)

Aditya Ramesh: Project Manager: Electric Bus & Coach Bus (aditya.ramesh[at]cutric-crituc.org)