Battery-Assisted Trolleybuses: Effect of Battery Energy Utilization Ratio on Overall Traction Energy Consumption

Martin Kendra, Daniel Pribula (), Tomáš Skrúcaný, Oľga Blažeková and Svetla Stoilova
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Martin Kendra: Department of Railway Transport, University of Žilina, Univerzitná 1, 010 26 Zillina, Slovakia
Daniel Pribula: Department of Railway Transport, University of Žilina, Univerzitná 1, 010 26 Zillina, Slovakia
Tomáš Skrúcaný: Department of Road and Urban Transport, University of Žilina, Univerzitná 1, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia
Oľga Blažeková: Department of Quantitative Methods and Economic Informatics, University of Žilina, Univerzitná 1, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia
Svetla Stoilova: Department of Railway Engineering, Technical University of Sofia, 8 Kl. Ohridski Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-26

Abstract: Urban public transport companies worldwide are introducing environmentally friendly bus solutions, and in cities with an existing trolleybus network, battery-assisted trolleybuses are an efficient alternative. Equipped with a traction battery, these vehicles allow a short range outside of the trolley lines and on-board recuperation, and they combine the advantages of electric buses and trolleybuses without the need for costly infrastructure expansions. Two similar battery-assisted trolleybuses are in operation in Žilina, where the unitary traction energy consumption has been observed to decrease as a function of the battery-powered and on-trolley-line vehicle run ratio. This theory was confirmed by statistical regression analysis of real operational data for one year of operation in different situations. This research also includes an analysis of battery-assisted trolleybuses’ operation on conventional trolleybus lines, which brought surprising findings, as well as an analysis of other selected indicators that can be dependent on the battery run ratio. These findings can contribute to reducing traction energy consumption by simply modifying the operating technologies without the need for extensive investment in infrastructure or vehicle equipment. This research is pilot research ready for in-depth research.

Keywords: battery-assisted trolleybuses; regression analysis; energy consumption; sustainability; urban public transport (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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