Optimal planning and scheduling for fast-charging electric bus system with distributed photovoltaics

Abstract

The global focus on emissions reduction has grown significantly, leading to the emergence of Battery electric buses (BEBs) as a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional buses. However, the high charging power induced by fast charging can burden the power grid and incur high demand charges. Distributed solar photovoltaics (PV) can play an important role in reducing peak load and charging costs. In this study, we address the problem of optimal planning and charging schedule for an electric bus system using fast-charging technology. We proposed a mathematical model to optimize the BEB charging schedule and PV planning such that the total cost of the system is minimized. A real bus network in Utah was adopted to validate the efficacy of the proposed models. The results demonstrated that integrating an energy storage system (ESS) and distributed PV can significantly reduce costs and increase the proportion of renewable energy used for BEB charging.