Battery Electric Buses Operating in Qatar: A Comprehensive Energy Consumption Analysis

Many challenges are preventing the widespread use of battery electric buses (BEBs) globally. Especially pertinent are operational constraints, such as BEBs’ driving range and charging infrastructure rollout, along with other economic concerns related to the high retail price of BEBs and charging infrastructure deployment. To overcome these obstacles, a proper assessment of BEB energy consumption (EC) is needed. This evaluation will contextualize BEBs’ charging needs, driving range, and battery design, the latter of which represents the most expensive onboard BEB component. The State of Qatar launched its public transport electrification plan by purchasing 741 BEBs to operate during the World Cup 2022™ public transportation network. This study assesses the real-world EC of BEBs in Qatar given the state’s climate and unique weather conditions. Specifically, this study investigates the correlation between high temperatures and driving range. A comprehensive testing plan is devised to assess subsystem-level EC against different operating conditions (i.e., passenger load, route topology, operating temperature, and driver profile). The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system EC; motor system EC; and auxiliary system EC are recorded in real time through the onboard telematics system.