Maplesoft has announced a new product that aims to help transit authorities create a smarter fleet electrification strategy. MapleSim Fleet Forward provides municipalities with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions during their transition to electric buses.
By combining virtual prototyping techniques, electrification expertise, and data about specific buses and bus routes, MapleSim Fleet Forward analyses electric bus behaviour under a variety of conditions.
Because the simulation and analysis are done virtually, transit authorities are provided with insights into their specific electrification needs at a fraction of the cost of physical testing. Planners can make data-based decisions when developing their electrification strategies, and identify and address problems before they occur in the field.
‘Many municipalities are looking for ways to go green, and reducing carbon emissions from transit is a critical aspect of their plans. However, moving to electric buses can present serious challenges to organizations because battery-driven vehicles behave differently than the diesel buses they are used to,’ says Paul Goossens, vice president of Market Development at Maplesoft. ‘With MapleSim Fleet Forward, we supply the information about that behaviour, using their buses, running on their routes, in their weather. As a result, cities can develop and implement successful plans that will help them to be environmentally friendly, run an efficient electric fleet, and save money in the process.’
MapleSim Fleet Forward is the result of a strategic partnership between Maplesoft and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Together, they provide a comprehensive set of tools and services to help transit authorities determine the best electrification strategy for their city. Maplesoft provides the system-level modelling and simulation tools and expertise, while the NRC provides electrification expertise for vehicle design, integration, and analysis.
‘The NRC is excited to be working with MapleSoft in this way. This collaboration will provide Transit Authorities with the information they need for decision making and to develop the best electrification strategy. This development is particularly important with the shift to electric power that the industry is seeing,’ commented Marie-Chantal Ross, program leader, Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre of the National Research Council of Canada. ‘Maplesoft and the NRC collaborated to develop an innovative tool that can provide critical information on electric bus behaviour under a variety of conditions, so fleet operators can identify problems before they occur, and confidently make informed decisions.’
