CUTRIC proudly presents the physics based, empirically validated RoutΣ.i™ 3.0 modelling toolset. It is designed to aid transit agencies in reducing the complexities involved in transit fleet electrification planning.  RoutΣ.i™ 3.0 is the third generation of a highly sophisticated scientific modelling and technology transition planning tool that is capable of simulating the specific physical conditions that a transit bus may encounter after its deployment on a specific transit system. These physical conditions include the local topographical conditions, service load, and local traffic considerations. The new and enhanced features that RoutΣ.i ^TM 3.0 offer advanced and customized feasibility analysis along with zero emission bus (ZEB) implementation and rollout planning guidance.

Some key features are as follow:

• Find the most suitable technology for your transit system:
  RoutΣ.i ^TM 3.0 simulates different zero-emission bus technologies, including battery-electric buses (BEBs), fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs), natural gas vehicles (NGVs) fuelled using a blend of renewable natural gas (RNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG), cutaway/shuttle vehicles and first-mile/last-mile solutions such as low-speed autonomous shuttles (e-LSA). This newest modelling toolset offers simulation of light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty fleets as well.
  
  

   

• Understand your Energy/Fuel Needs:
  The toolset predicts the energy/fuel utilization on each transit route/block (kWh/km, kgH2/km), the total amount of energy and fuel consumption on a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly basis.
  
  
• Predict success rates and vehicle ranges:
  RoutΣ.i ^TM 3.0 pinpoints exactly the order in which various service areas of a transit system could be considered for electrification given current technologies and local operational demands.
  
  

   

• Understand your Charging Needs and Fuelling Times:
  RoutΣ.i ^TM 3.0 permits the selection of the scientifically and economically suitable charging/refuelling strategy in a system by incorporating schedule and charging optimization to support seamless electrification deployments.
  
  

   

• Identify the Optimal Charger/Fuel Stations Locations:
  Detailed feasibility studies conducted with RoutΣ.i ^TM 3.0 are capable of determining optimal locations for the installation of charger and/or fuelling stations considering both technical and socio-economical aspects.
  
  

   

• Plan the ZEB rollout, estimate your total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI):
  The in-depth analysis performed with the RoutΣ.i TM 3.0 toolset permits transit operators to have an accurate estimation of the capital costs to deploy vehicles, charging/refuelling infrastructure and to build/retrofit facilities. CUTRIC offers site assessments as a part of ZEB implementation planning that considers existing facility’s status, capacity and resilience to accommodate ZEB technology and the allied infrastructure and utility requirements. Operational costs with energy/fuel and maintenance are also included so that the potential savings are used to estimate an ROI timeline. Along with technical planning, CUTRIC conducts needs, risk, cost and benefits assessment for transit agencies planning ZEB implementation.
  
  
• Electrification Planning:
  RoutΣ.i 3.0 is able to classify the blocks/routes based on their level of difficulty of electrification. Gradual fleet electrification (phased rollout) is recommended by combining the modelling results with the replacement cycles envisioned by the transit agency.
  
  
• Lifecycle GHG emission reductions:
  The RoutΣ.i ^TM 3.0 toolset involves a full life cycle analysis (LCA) to estimate the potential GHG emission reductions that will be accomplished when transitioning from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles to ZEBs.

RoutΣ.i ^TM lite can be a good starting point for transit agencies to get started with their transit electrification plan. This lite version of the tool aims to offer an expedited service delivery for transit agencies that are working on a compressed schedule and might also face some budgetary constraints. 

The outcomes of this analysis, although not as detailed as the outcomes of the full RoutΣ.i version, can add significant value to transit agencies in terms of understanding the energy/fuel needs, GHG emission reductions, technology selection and preliminary electrification plans. 

CloudTransit™ 2.0 is the second generation of CUTRIC’s cloud-based platform designed to collect, integrate, analyze, and report on real time operational data, lessons learned, challenges, risks and issues associated with the deployment and operation of zero emission buses (ZEBs) and allied infrastructure.  As part of the Pan-Canadian Battery Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial Phase I project that CUTRIC leads, CloudTransit™ 2.0 enables performance data integration and comparisons involving various data sources and assets across multiple transit systems, cities and utility partners.

CUTRIC’s deCarbonify™ tool helps transit agencies determine how their transit agency compares to other Canadian transit systems today in terms of energy intensity and pollution. Offering transit agencies a measurement of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, the tool measures CO2e/passenger, CO2e/revenue km, CO2e/total service kms (including deadheading), CO2e/service area density unit and CO2e/vehicle measures. CUTRIC’s deCarbonify™ can also offer additional relative pollution measures such as CO2e per passenger per revenue kilometre.

These measurements help transit agencies determine whether reducing emissions is achieved faster or more substantially using alternative propulsion vehicles, improved route optimization, improved service area design or ridership improvement programs.

ZEVMapper™ helps cities and municipalities determine the potential, required and optimal locations for their electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), or “EV charging station” installations.

The tool uses original methodological insights to determine optimal EVSE locations based on the needs of residents, commuters and through-traffic into and out of a community. It also integrates local and global EV adoption rates to assess the need for growth in charging stations over the next five to 20-year period.

Based on early research conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s plug-in electric vehicle infrastructure studies (The EV Project and the ChargePoint America Project), ZEVMapper™ utilizes three categories of variables in calculating and mapping ideal EV charging locations: optimal location variables, installation cost variables and EV driver charging patterns. The tool also maps specific siting choices including long-term parking opportunities (Level 1 & 2), special applications for Level 2 and highway intersectionality (Level 3).

ZEVMapper™ produces outcomes in a “Best Case – Worst Case” scenario assessment which identifies the total number of EV chargers required at a given location or within a given service area to fully satisfy charging needs based on range capabilities of various makes and models of vehicles, drive cycles associated with EV drivers (including commuters, tourists and residents), and minimum required time to charge and “return to home base” for overnight charging.