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The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613857188413440 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Giliomee, Johannes Human |
| author2 | Booysen, M. J. |
| author_browse | Booysen, M. J. Giliomee, Johannes Human |
| author_facet | Booysen, M. J. Giliomee, Johannes Human |
| author_sort | Giliomee, Johannes Human |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131665 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:48.374Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131665 The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa Giliomee, Johannes Human Booysen, M. J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Electric vehicles -- Energy consumption Transportation -- Africa, Sub-Saharan Paratransit services -- Africa, Sub-Saharan Renewable energy sources -- Africa, Sub-Saharan UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The need to electrify the paratransit industry in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is urgent, with emissions from transport being detriment to both planet- and human-health. The dominant vehicle mode in this industry is the minibus taxi, with millions operating every day across the continent. Targeting the electrification of this vehicle will thus have impactful consequences. However, considering the relatively unknown nature of their operations, the limited range of electric vehicles, and electricity scarcity in the region, the electrification of this industry requires comprehensive energy analysis. This includes both the energy usage of an electric minibus taxi, and how this energy can be supplied. This thesis provides an in-depth analysis on the energy efficiency and requirements of an electric minibus taxi, the expected electrical supply requirements for charging, and how sustainable long-distance trips can be achieved. It is found that the energy efficiency is heavily dependent on the driving scenario. Urban, inter-city, uphill, and downhill driving scenarios are analysed, with results ranging from 0.29 - 0.51 kWh/km. On average, an energy efficiency of 0.39 kWh/km is found using high-frequency mobility data as input. It is also found that the sampling frequency of mobility data used as input to energy models has a substantial effect on energy analysis, as a low sampling frequency (minutely) fails to capture full micro-level movements. The daily energy requirement of an electric minibus taxi is reliant on the operation of the vehicle, such as the total distance travelled during the day, and whether the vehicle operates in an urban or inter-city scenario. As such, average energy requirements range from 56 - 215 kWh/day for taxis travelling 81 - 296 km/day. Furthermore, high-frequency mobility data is used to improve an existing micro-mobility simulation tool. Various shortcomings in the simulation are found, such as a misrepresentation of the physical road infrastructure, inaccurate waypoint progression, and an unrepresentative driving style. To assess the grid-impact, a software tool is developed to simulate charging of a minibus taxi fleet. For the applied use case of minibus taxis operating in Johannesburg, South Africa, a peak grid-load of 12 kW/taxi, and grid-drawn energy of 87.4 kWh/taxi/day are found. As minibus taxis are predominantly used by daily commuters, these charging peaks are seen multiple times per day (specifically during the morning and evening). To reduce the electrical supply requirements, a solar and external battery system is added to the simulation. For an external battery capacity equivalent to 50% of the electric minibus taxi’s capacity and solar system sizing of 9.45 kWpk/taxi, the average peak power draw is reduced by 66%, while total grid-drawn energy reduced by 58%. To enable sustainable long-distance paratransit, an operational plan using swappable, solar-charged battery bank trailers is developed. Compared to an electric minibus taxi, this operational plan increases vehicle range by 120%, reduces average recharging downtime by 74%, and reduces CO2 emissions by 80%. Although it is clear that there are many obstacles to overcome in the pursuit of electrifying paratransit in SSA, the methodologies and results presented in this thesis lay the foundation for future research and electric minibus taxi implementation in SSA. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die behoefte om die paratransit-industrie in sub-Sahara-Afrika (SSA) te elektrifiseer, is dringend, met vervoerverwante emissies wat nadelig is vir beide planeet- en menslike gesondheid. Die dominante voertuigmodus in hierdie bedryf is die minibustaxi, met miljoene wat elke dag regoor die vasteland in werking is. Om die elektrifisering van hierdie voertuig te teiken, kan dus betekenisvolle gevolge hˆe. Met die inagneming van die relatief onbekende aard van hul bedrywighede, die beperkte reikafstand van elektriese voertuie en elektrisiteittekorte in die streek, vereis die elektrifisering van hierdie industrie egter omvattende energie-ontleding. Dit sluit beide die energieverbruik van ’n elektriese minibustaxi in en hoe hierdie energie voorsien kan word. Hierdie tesis lewer ’n deeglike ontleding van die energieeffektiwiteit en -vereistes van ’n elektriese minibustaxi, die verwagte elektriese voorsieningsvereistes vir die laai daarvan en hoe volhoubare langafstandritte gedoen kan word. Daar is bevind dat die energieeffektiwiteit afhanklik is van die bestuursomgewing. Stedelike, tussenstedelike, opdraande en afdraande bestuursomgewings is ontleed, met resultate wat wissel van 0.29 - 0.51 kWh/km. ’n Gemiddelde energie-effektiwiteit van 0.39 kWh/km is gevind op grond van ho¨efrekwensie mobiliteitsdata. Daar is ook bevind dat die steekproeffrekwensie van mobiliteitsdata, wat as toevoer tot energiemodelle gebruik word, ’n wesenlike effek op energie-analise het, aangesien ’n lae steekproeffrekwensie (minuutliks) nie ten volle mikro-vlak bewegings vasvang nie. Die daaglikse energiebehoefte van ’n elektriese minibustaxi is afhanklik van die dienslewering van die voertuig, soos die totale afstand wat per dag afgelˆe word en of die voertuig stedelike of interstedelike roetes ry. Gemiddelde energiebehoeftes van ’n minibustaxi wissel dus van 56 - 215 kWh/dag vir taxis wat 81 - 296 km/dag aflˆe. Verder is die ho¨efrekwensie-mobiliteitsdata ook gebruik om ’n bestaande mikro-mobiliteit simulasie sagteware te verbeter. Verskeie tekortkominge is in die simulasie gevind, soos ’n wanvoorstelling van die fisiese padinfrastruktuur, onakkurate roete voortgang en ’n onverteenwoordigende bestuurstyl. Om die impak op die elektriese infrastruktuur te bepaal, is ’n sagteware-instrument ontwikkel om die laai van ’n minibustaxi-vloot te simuleer. Vir die toegepaste gebruiksgeval van minibustaxis wat in Johannesburg, Suid-Afrika, handel dryf, is ’n piek netwerk-impak van 12 kW/taxi en netwerk-getrokke energie van 87.4 kWh/taxi/dag bepaal. Aangesien minibustaxis hoofsaaklik deur daaglikse pendelaars gebruik word, is hierdie piek verskeie kere per dag gesien (spesifiek gedurende die oggend en aand). Om die elektriese toevoervereistes te verminder, is ’n sonkrag- en eksterne batterystelsel in die simulasie ingebou. Vir ’n eksterne batterykapasiteit gelykstaande aan 50% van die elektriese minibustaxi se kapasiteit en sonkragstelselgrootte van 9.45 kWpk/taxi, is die gemiddelde piek netwerk-impak met 66% verminder, terwyl die totale netwerk-getrokke energie met 58% verminder. Om volhoubare langafstand-paratransit te fasiliteer, is ’n operasionele plan met uitruilbare, sonkrag-gelaaide battery-bank sleepwaens ontwikkel. In vergelyking met ’n elektriese minibustaxi, verhoog hierdie operasionele plan die voertuig se reikafstand met 120%, verminder die gemiddelde herlaaityd met 74% en verminder CO2-vrystellings met 80%. Alhoewel dit duidelik is dat daar baie struikelblokke oorkom moet word in die strewe na die elektrifisering van paratransit in SSA, lˆe die metodologie¨e en resultate wat in hierdie tesis aangebied word die grondslag vir toekomstige navorsing en die implementering van die elektriese minibustaxi in SSA. Doctoral 2025-02-04T13:36:19Z 2025-02-04T13:36:19Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131665 en Stellenbosch University xvi, 140 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Electric vehicles -- Energy consumption Transportation -- Africa, Sub-Saharan Paratransit services -- Africa, Sub-Saharan Renewable energy sources -- Africa, Sub-Saharan UCTD Giliomee, Johannes Human The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title | The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full | The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_fullStr | The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_short | The energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_sort | energy demand and fulfilment thereof for electric minibus taxis in sub saharan africa |
| topic | Electric vehicles -- Energy consumption Transportation -- Africa, Sub-Saharan Paratransit services -- Africa, Sub-Saharan Renewable energy sources -- Africa, Sub-Saharan UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131665 |
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