Feasibility analysis of electric minibus as a last mile connectivity

Abstract

The Indian government has given a target to achieve 30% of all vehicles to be electric by 2030. The State Transport Undertakings (STUs) of different states are taking steps to electrify their bus fleets. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is one such STU who has not only deployed 9m and 12m electric buses on some of their routes but also has issued a request for expressions of interest for the procurement of 100 mini non-AC electric buses mainly as metro feeder bus routes, to improve the last mile connectivity of metro. The electric minibuses will be 7m long and have a seating capacity of 20. In a survey by WRI, 70% of the respondents had reported that the main reason for not choosing metro is because of poor last mile connectivity. Electric minibuses are a promising solution for last-mile connectivity, as they are easier to manoeuvre through traffic and can access areas that the 9m or 12m buses can’t cater to. The electric minibuses can reduce traffic congestion and improve the overall traffic flow in the city. It is essential to conduct a feasibility analysis to determine the technical and economic viability of introducing an electric minibus system as a last-mile connectivity solution in Bengaluru. The thesis is on the feasibility of running these electric minibuses as a last mile connectivity. The feasibility study includes identifying the best routes and schedules for the minibuses, taking into account traffic patterns and passenger demand hence helping us to determine the optimal number of minibuses required to provide adequate last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru. The analysis will involve assessing the current state of the technology, evaluating the availability of the required infrastructure, and identifying any potential technical challenges that may need to be addressed before the project can be implemented. The analysis will help to assess the potential costeffectiveness of the proposed system and dentify any potential revenue streams that may be generated. The feasibility analysis will help us assess the integration of the electric minibus system with the existing transportation infrastructure in Bengaluru, including compatibility with the existing metro system and the availability of parking and charging facilities at the depots