New Study from NTUA Optimises Electric Bus Charging Infrastructure in Athens
Image from NTUA
Scientific publications play a key role within the metaCCAZE project, enabling the dissemination of key findings to the wider research community. By sharing results on comparative replication models and the performance of AI and technological tools for climate-neutral mobility, the project promotes transparency, encourages collaboration, and drives innovation across related research fields.
As cities race to replace polluting diesel buses with cleaner electric alternatives, researchers from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), have published a new study addressing a critical challenge in the transition to electric public transport: where to place charging stations for electric buses.
The new study presents a model designed to help city planners identify optimal locationsce for electric bus charging stations—balancing maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The model considers important factors, like the distance a bus must travel (without passengers) to reach a charging station after finishing its route, as well as the type of charger needed, between slower, more affordable and faster but more expensive alternatives.Â
Tested in the Athens metropolitian area, the model is capable of handling large-scale public transport systems involving thousands of bus trips and hundreds of potential charging locations. By translating complex daily operations into average values, the tool enables cities to make informed, long-term decisions for electric fleet infrastructures.Â
Publication Details
Gkiotsalitis, K., Rizopoulos, D., Merakou, M., Iliopoulou, C., Liu, T., & Cats, O. (2025).Electric bus charging station location selection problem with slow and fast charging. In Applied Energy (Bd. 382). metaCCAZE. Horizon Europe Grant No. 101139678.Â
About NTUA
The Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is a globally recognised center of excellence in transport research and innovation. Its mission is to educate transport engineers and advance science in transport planning and engineering. Within metaCCAZE, NTUA serves as the technical coordinator, which focuses on developing an open, smart toolkit that integrates electrification, automation, and connectivity to support zero-emission shared mobility systems.
Author: Lisa Marie Hanß
