IVIsion and IVInet - tool chain for the electrification of city bus routes

The Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure (IVI) developed a method and matching tools (IVIsion and IVInet) that analyzes and evaluates individual bus routes or entire bus route networks regarding their suitability for electric buses. IVInet analyses the vehicle rostering plan and the route network. The software is designed especially for the development of suitable solutions in the transfer from diesel-powered bus networks to electric buses. Based on generalized values for traction energy demands and simplified assumptions regarding the energy demand of auxiliaries, heating, and cooling, the state of charge of the energy storage is analysed for the vehicle circulation under consideration of a boost charging strategy. With an optimization method the optimal number of charging infrastructure will be find under given conditions. IVIsion is an in-house development that comprises several program modules for data processing, for the calculation of driving systems, and for evaluating the calculation results. At least it contains more than 200 preconfigured drive trains for conventional, parallel, and serial hybrid as well as purely electrical driving systems. IVIsion offers opportunity for detailed calculations that take into account models for auxiliary units, the wiring system, drive train cooling, and passenger compartment air conditioning. All powertrain components, auxiliary components and their respective intelligent control strategies are part of the tool. The usage of the tool chain is explained in an application example.