A Review of Battery Electric Public Transport Timetabling and Scheduling: A 10 Year Retrospective and New Developments

Abstract

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable transportation systems, driving a fundamental transformation in public transport (PT) operations over the past decade. The unique characteristics of BEVs, including range limitations and battery degradation dynamics, necessitate a multi-dimensional optimization framework that simultaneously considers energy supply management, operational efficiency, and battery lifecycle optimization in transit scheduling and timetabling. This paper presents a systematic review of BEV timetabling and scheduling research, structured around three main contributions. First, it comprehensively examines the evolution of electric vehicle timetabling problems, providing a detailed comparative analysis of methodological approaches in this domain. Second, it identifies and critically evaluates key developments in electric vehicle scheduling, including extended research directions (such as the integration with crew scheduling) and their practical implications. Third, it investigates the integration of BEV scheduling and timetabling, synthesizing the strengths and limitations of current methodologies while outlining promising avenues for future research. By offering a comprehensive analysis of the advancements in battery electric public transport scheduling over the past decade, this review serves as both a technical reference and a strategic guide for researchers and practitioners in the field of sustainable transportation systems.