Electrifying Urban Transit: A Comprehensive Review and Future Prospects of Electric Bus Operation Management

Abstract

As the electrification of public transit gains momentum, China has witnessed a remarkable surge in the number of electric buses (EBs) being deployed. The efficient management of EB operations holds paramount importance in curbing carbon emissions within the public transit system. This paper presents an overview of the historical development of EBs in both China and Western nations, and identifies prevailing challenges faced in their practical operation management. Within this context, we propose a comprehensive framework for EB operation management and provide a synthesis of current research efforts from multiple perspectives, including energy consumption estimation, vehicle scheduling, energy-efficient driving, resource allocation, and benefit evaluation. Moreover, we outline prospective techniques and methods that can steer the future of EB operation management. In conclusion, we systematically outline the key challenges that require attention in the coming years. These encompass electric bus network planning, accurate battery life estimation based on real-world data, intelligent scheduling, and the integration of novel power supply and charging modes. Addressing these challenges will be pivotal in paving the way for an environmentally sustainable and efficient electric bus operation management system.