Automated and Connected Electric Vehicle Integration: Optimization Analysis & Techno-Economic Predictive Analysis

The Automated and Connected Electric Vehicle Integration: Optimization Analysis & Techno- Economic Predictive Analysis project will help municipalities across Ontario predictively assess and understand the feasibility of deploying and operating low-speed electrified autonomous shuttles (e- LSAs) within local municipal systems and specifically with regards to first-mile/last-mile solution building. This will improve mobility options for Ontarians and Canadians more broadly, and it will increase the breadth of shared mobility and transit services while driving forward job growth in the electrified, autonomous and connected vehicle ecosystems. The objective of the project is to predictively assess optimization and techno-economic parameters of e-LSA operation along selected routes within municipal jurisdictions in Ontario, utilizing the TRiPSIM© modelling tool. The outcomes of TRiPSIM© modelling will highlight the benefits of a longterm implementation and monitoring of a series of national on-road demonstration trials using e-LSAs across a proposed set of municipal jurisdictions.

The project objectives are:

1. Modelling work for e-LSAs across 12 municipalities in Canada as emanating from an awarded ACATS contract by Transport Canada. This part of the project relates to a set of tools for decision-making guidance which will be composed of modelling-based predictive and empirical analysis of the implementation of multiple manufacturer models of e-LSAs. These outputs will help the consortium refine the TRiPSIM© tool currently in development in Project 160015c/160017c. This tool will integrate i) energy consumption estimations; ii) environmental costs and benefits; iii) electricity costs and benefits and; and iv) resiliency costs and benefits (fleet resiliency) for e-LSAs specifically.
2. National Academic Advisory Committee (NAAC) to perform Academic Research Assessment of e-LSAs. The core knowledge and technology outputs emanating from this module relate to key and critical research performed by seven leading academic institutes in Canada to address cybersecurity and privacy of CAV networks; user perception and experience; safety assurance testing; Transit Signal Priority for CAVs; and winter vehicular sliding conditions.

Project Partners: