Route-Level Energy Efficiency Analysis of Pure Electric Buses: Key Influencing Factors and Optimized Suggestions

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Currently, the adoption rate of pure electric buses is continuously increasing across cities nationwide, and their energy consumption costs have become an important component of urban bus operating expenses. The aim of this study is to explore significant factors related to energy savings for a bus route, which can help bus operators improve route energy efficiency and make resource allocation more reasonable.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">This study selects per capita energy consumption per thousand kilometers (PKEK) as the energy efficiency indicator and constructs a regression model with robust standard errors and a hierarchical clustering model using GPS operation data, total daily energy consumption data, and card swiping data from electric buses on eight routes in the same operational area of Nanjing from April 1 to June 10, 2021.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The research results confirm the existence of significant variables affecting energy efficiency, primarily including: average speed, proportion of high-speed intervals, vehicle age, number of turns, whether it is a weekend, minimum distance between stations, average temperature, distance from the first station to the charging station, and number of seats. Based on these variables, the eight routes are classified into four types, i.e., Type I to Type IV routes, with significant differences in their energy efficiency distribution and a gradual decrease in performance. For Type III and Type IV routes with lower energy efficiency, this study offers targeted improvement suggestions in areas such as driver behavior, vehicle updates, charging station placement and vehicle scheduling. These suggestions point to some feasible directions at the route level for bus companies to reduce operating costs and promote green development.</div></div>