Vision

The 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP26) has called upon all parties to adopt proactive climate action plans, aiming to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. Currently, over 130 countries worldwide have presented declarations and action plans for “2050 net-zero emissions”. In addition , the Chairman’s Statement of the 2023 APEC Energy Ministers Meeting proposed that by 2035, around 70% of electricity generation in the APEC region’s power sector should come from carbon-neutral and carbon-neutral sources. Moreover, the APEC Transport Ministers Meeting held in 2023 also prioritized “mitigating the impacts of climate change” as one of its focus areas, highlighting the crucial role of the transportation sector in climate change adaptation. Therefore, the transportation sector plays a significant role in addressing climate change. In pursuit of transitioning towards net-zero emissions, many APEC members are actively promoting vehicle electrification. However, there are several pain points in the process, particularly concerning charging and energy management issues stemming from the widespread electrification of vehicles.

Based on the aforementioned visions of net zero development from international organizations including the United Nations and APEC, as well as the policy guideline of vehicle electrification in Chinese Taipei, in March 2022, Chinese Taipei announced “2050 Net Zero Emissions Pathway and Strategy”, presenting 12 key strategies. Among them, “Full Electrification of Buses by 2030” stands out as a crucial policy, marking a significant step towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050 for Chinese Taipei. However, as Chinese Taipei’s central and local governments, along with the electric bus industry, push forward with the implementation of this policy, we encounter challenges. With the large-scale increase in the number of electric buses and the simultaneous rapid charging, we face daunting issues in energy management, complex electricity grid supply and demand scheduling, and limited space for charging infrastructure. Addressing these multifaceted smart city energy management challenges urgently requires an effective, innovative, and climate-smart energy management solution for Chinese Taipei and even other economies in the Asia-Pacific region, as Figure 1 shows.

Figure 1 : Advancing Bus Electrification by 2030: Leveraging AI, IoT, and Smart City Innovations for Intelligent Transport and Energy Management

In response to the international trends of net-zero transition and digital transformation, the vision of this project aims to address the challenges mentioned above in vehicle electrification and energy management by integrating emerging AIoT technologies with smart transport system. We seek to develop innovative solutions for smart city transportation energy management, accelerating the pace of vehicle electrification in Chinese Taipei and the Asia-Pacific region. We are committed to build electrified vehicle energy management and charging integration services within smart cities. While there are already many charging systems internationally, they are mostly designed for charging passenger cars but cannot meet the simultaneous charging needs of large-scale bus fleets. Our vision is to create the world’s first intelligent charging management system specifically tailored for electric bus fleets, and to support smart city public charging solutions for different types of vehicles. This will simultaneously address the charging needs of electric buses, electric logistics vehicles, and electric passenger cars, significantly reducing the pain points of fleet operators and EV owners in electrification, enhancing the willingness to replace traditional fuel vehicles, and accelerating the ultimate goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Figure 2 : Vision for an Integrated Smart City Transportation and Energy Solution: Supporting Multi-Vehicle Charging Needs

The smart transport solution and policy developed in this project not only supports charging services for different types of vehicles in smart cities (such as electric buses, electric logistics vehicles, and electric passenger cars) but also, through the application of V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, can treat electric commercial vehicle fleets such as electric buses as part of a “mobile energy storage system.” This system can provide emergency power supply for specific areas or critical infrastructure (such as hospitals) during temporary power outages caused by disasters. It can also cooperate with the virtual power plant mechanism of power companies to dynamically provide the stored energy on buses in parking lots, assisting the regional grid in providing stable power services and strengthening the resilience of urban and community power grid.

Figure 3: Integrated Smart Charging and Energy Management System for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Enabled Urban Resilience

This project not only aims to achieve the vision of improving smart city energy management efficiency and achieving net-zero carbon emissions but also aims to create a standardized, automated, and inclusive ecosystem for smart transport and energy management. The project is committed to develop solutions with unified international standards, enabling rapid deployment not only in Chinese Taipei but also across the Asia-Pacific region to actively promote net-zero and digital transformation in smart cities. The project actively adopts emerging technologies such as AI and IoT to provide highly automated integrated charging solutions, further reducing the workload and night shift manpower of public transportation workers, and bringing benefits to the workforce development in the smart transport industry. Additionally, through the development of automated and intelligent energy management services, the project reduces labor intensity and enhances the comfort of transport work through facilitating the development of  an automated and reliable electrified transport system, allowing both men and women to participate, serve, and contribute to this inclusive ecosystem of smart transport and energy management, promoting gender equality and social justice.

Figure 4 : Project Vision: Creating an Inclusive Ecosystem for Smart Transport and Energy Management

Stragety

Chinese Taipei is actively promoting the Electrification Plan for Buses by 2030. During this process, we have identified various difficulties and challenges      faced by local governments and bus operators, such as land acquisition for parking, installation of charging stations, high-power electricity application, and battery efficiency issues, etc. To address these pain points, this project has developed and implemented strategies in four major areas: “Standardized Charging Interfaces,” “Establishment of Big Data Platforms and AIoT Technology,” “Cross-Unit Collaboration Testing and Deployment at Electric Bus Stations,” and ” Smart Charging System Subsidy Policies Promotion.” These initiatives aim to assist fleet operators in optimizing electric bus energy management, smart charging, and operational management, thus accelerating the promotion of bus electrification by 2030.

Figure 5 : Four Main Strategies Implemented in This Project

In the process of promoting the electrification policy for buses, we have found that one of the major obstacles for bus operators in purchasing electric buses is the challenges related to charging scheduling and energy management. Therefore,we actively coordinate the cross-domain communication and collaboration involving various stakeholders, including central and local governments, software industries, and bus industries, to address these issues.

Firstly, we established a cross-departmental coordination mechanism and collaborated with the Industrial Bureau and the Bureau of Standards of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as the charging industry alliance , to promote the standardization of charging interfaces (CCS1+N). This facilitates the application and promotion of this project in Chinese Taipei.

Additionally, we developed an electric bus operation data monitoring and management platform and established data transmission mechanisms.  We defined standard data collection items, transmission formats, and mechanisms to enable automated and digital data collection. Developing smart charging system through big data analysis ,cloud computing, and AI technology can enhance smart charging management.

Furthermore, to demonstrate the feasibility and practical benefits of our solution and technology, we collaborated with domestic smart transport industry and bus companies to implement the smart charging management system of this project at electric bus stations for operational management verification.

In the first phase, the smart transport solution was implemented in practice at the biggest electric bus charging stations so far in Chinese Taipei , equipped with chargers complying with international standards (CCS1) at 120kWh per charger. Through actual operations by several major bus companies in Taipei City and comparative analysis conducted before and after implementation, the system has demonstrated tangible application benefits over the course of operation.

Building upon the successful results from the implementation in Taipei City , the project has expanded further in the second phase. It now includes the three major metropolitan areas in Chinese Taipei: Taipei City, Taichung City, and New Taipei City. This expansion involves multiple bus companies, incorporating numerous electric bus fleets and charging facilities, including both private and public charging stations (as part of collaboration between Taipei City Government, Taipei Metro Company, and other regional bus companies ). The system is being further extended to effectively handle charging scheduling and energy management of shared electric vehicle charging stations for small vehicles, electric logistics vehicles, and electric buses.

Moreover, to accelerate the deployment and adoption of the smart charging solution developed by this project, Chinese Taipei has developed policies for bus electrification to offer subsidies to support the implementation of the smart charging system. This policy support encourages bus companies to adopt smart charging, thereby increasing the utilization rates of charging station , ensuring public transportation reliability and quality, and alleviating the burden on the power grid.

Measure

The four strategies and related measures developed by this project, namely, “Standardized Charging Interfaces,” “Establishment of Big Data Platforms and AIoT Technology,” “Cross-Unit Collaboration Testing and Deployment at Electric Bus Stations,” and “Promotion of Smart Charging System Subsidy Policies,” have all been effectively implemented. Below is an explanation of the execution process and results of each strategy.

1.Standardized Charging Interfaces:

Since 2021, we have collaborated with the Industrial Bureau and the Bureau of Standards, of the Ministry of Economic Affairs to accelerate the development of a favorable environment and conditions for the smart charging industry in Chinese Taipei. We have urged the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to work with nearly 50 companies to establish the Electric Vehicle Energy Supply Industry Technology Promotion Alliance. After joint discussions, the alliance decided to standardize the charging interface for electric buses. It adopted the international standard “CCS1,” which is commonly used in Europe and the United States and supports direct current (DC) charging. Through the unified interface of private and public charging stations, we aim to create a friendly charging environment for promoting electric buses domestically and to accelerate the development of smart transport in Chinese Taipei. Additionally, we have completed the standardization of charging interfaces (CCS1+N) and adopted by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications'(MOTC) subsidy mechanism for electric buses. It is now a requirement for newly purchased electric buses eligible for subsidies to adopt the CCS1+N interface.

Figure 6 : Standardization of Charging Interfaces in Chinese Taipei

 

2. Establishment of Big Data Platforms and AIoT Technology

We began developing a large-scale Electric Bus Operation Data Monitoring and Management Platform as early as 2019-2020 and established data transmission mechanism to ensure the smoothness of  the data collection required for the development of smart charging solutions. Through these specifications, we ensure the accuracy, consistency, completeness, and stability of big data collection for electric buses. Since 2021, the platform has been collecting operational data for electric buses, including vehicle and battery information, including charging infrastructure data and operational basics. This data is utilized to understand operational key performance indicators and critical issues, serve as a basis for annual vehicle performance evaluations, continuously review electric bus promotion policies, and form a crucial foundation for developing smart charging solutions for electric buses.

Utilizing the vast amount of data collected by the platform, the project has developed data analysis and AI-based models for electric bus operations. By employing AI technology and integrating platform data with other cross-domain data such as bus route characteristics, road traffic patterns, and weather conditions, we have established predictive models for electric bus operation and energy consumption. These models enable station dispatch personnel to monitor the remaining state of charge (SOC) of electric buses returning to the station in real-time, provide estimated energy consumption values based on departure schedules, and offer suggested charging amounts and timings, thereby significantly enhancing the precision of smart charging strategies and the operational efficiency.

Figure 7 : AI-based Predictive Models for Electric Bus Energy Consumption

 

3. Cross-Unit Collaboration Testing and Deployment at Electric Bus Stations

Starting in 2021, we collaborated with government agencies, research institutions, charging equipment manufacturers, system integration service providers, and electric bus companies to conduct a real-world validation of the smart charging system at electric bus stations.

This smart transport solution utilizes interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) information from various systems and constructs a cloud-based platform. It integrates real-time driving data for electric vehicles (including license plate information, GPS data, state of charge (SOC), and battery temperature), dynamic fleet schedules (including license plates, routes, and rest times), and charging station data (including charger status, power, and contracted capacity). It analyzes the remaining battery levels for all vehicles, their departure order, and the power demand for each trip, taking into account various constraints such as daytime, nighttime, peak, and off-peak periods reflecting different price for electric power. It then automatically calculates the optimal charging power and schedules, satisfying the charging needs of fleet operation and scheduling.

Furthermore, multiple AI technologies are incorporated. The system utilizes long-term accumulated data and incorporates the AI energy consumption model. This model continuously updates in real-time with rolling data and predicts energy consumption values under different traffic battery conditions and ever environment and weather conditions. It automatically issues charging commands based on these predictions, optimally arranging charging power according to battery characteristics, and tracking battery health throughout its lifecycle based on accumulated charge and discharge records. This development aims to create a comprehensive and fully automated smart charging solution.

Figure 8 : AI and IoT-Based Smart Charging System for Electric Buses

 

4. Smart Charging System Subsidy Policies Promotion

In addition to establishing standardized charging interfaces, operational data transmission mechanisms, and system validation processes, we continue to collaborate with the Charging Industry Alliance to engage in industry standard study for electric vehicle smart charging systems. This collaboration aims to assist fleet operators in adopting suitable smart charging and AI technology applications based on their needs and infrastructure conditions. Furthermore, it involves establishing verification units to ensure that the functionalities and quality meet market demands and subsidy requirements . The relevant research and development outcomes are incorporated into the MOTC’s subsidy guidelines for electric buses. These guidelines require bus companies to integrate smart charging at their charging stations. This aims to promote the successful experiences of smart charging solution adopted in Chinese Taipei and accelerate the deployment of the efficient, smart and green solution for electric bus charging and energy management.

 

Figure 9 : Smart Charging System Subsidy Policies Promotion

Performance

The strategies of this project have been successfully implemented, and the project performances and benefits are outlined as follows:

1.Benefits of the project at Chinese Taipei’s biggest electric bus station

Under the original charging operation modal of bus companies, drivers need to plug in the charging gun upon arrival at the station. They would then report the the procedure to the station operator, who manually calculates whether the remaining contracted capacity is sufficient and issues the charging command. During nighttime operations, station operators always struggle with the charging process. The manual charging decision-making process is cumbersome, and easily cause human errors in setting the charging power often result in fines for exceeding contracted capacity, as well as potential reduction in battery lifespan.

With the smart transport solution developed by this project, the charging procedure is automated. The system calculates the charging power required based on the remaining battery level, departure order, and trip mileage demands of vehicles. It then issues charging commands accordingly. After implementing the smart transport solution at Chinese Taipei’s biggest electric bus station, the project yields the following quantitative benefits:

(1) Significant Saving in Manpower Costs

Based on the project’s verification results, the implementation of smart transport solution can achieve over 30% cost savings in manpower especially during nighttime charging. Considering the anticipated significant increase in the number of electric buses and chargers in the future, the complexity and intensity of daytime scheduling and dispatching will significantly increase. Without the smart charging management system, a considerable amount of manpower would be required for charging scheduling and shift scheduling, and energy-saving charging may not be effectively executed. Therefore, with the implementation of this smart transport solution, if charging is conducted during the daytime, it could save over 30-50% in manpower costs, enhancing the competitiveness of fleet operators.

Figure 10: Transformation: From Manual Operations and Calculations to Smart Charging and Energy Management

 

(2)Battery Life Extension

The project has proven to extend battery life more than 20%. Additionally, through long-term monitoring, anomalies in battery performance can be detected, and regular monitoring reports are provided to operators. This facilitates the early detection of battery aging and reducing failure risks, allowing for the provision of different charging modes according to the battery condition.

(3)Contracted Capacity Reduction

Currently, most electric buses primarily charge during nighttime. By implementing the system developed in this project, allowing charging of electric buses during the daytime can significantly reduce the costs associated with charging them all at the same time. As a result, the contracted capacity is expected to be reduced by around 50%, leading to substantial reductions in operational costs for bus companies.

(4)Increasing the Utilization and Efficiency of Charging Equipment

Based on the implementation results of this project, the ratio of vehicles to chargers was originally 54:54 (1:1). Through the enhanced smart scheduling introduced in this project, the ratio become 74:54. Subsequently, with the implementation of daytime scheduling to distribute the demand for charger usage, the ratio can increase to 2-3:1 or more, and the cost of stations can save over 20%.

(5)Reduction in Total Charging Time (Improvement in Operational Efficiency)

Derived from the benefits outlined above, there can be significant savings in total charging time for electric buses. During normal daytime operations, the implementation of this project’s system allows for charging scheduling and calculations based on factors such as the next departure time, the required amount of power charge for the next trip, and the charging needs of other electric buses. This enables efficient charging of electric buses, maximizing the utilization rate of chargers. Consequently, with the improved charging schedule and efficiency during daytime, the total operational time and mileage of electric buses can be increased, thereby enhancing bus companies operational profits.

Figure 11: Quantitative Benefits of the Smart Charging Management System at Charging Stations

 

2.Benefits for all Electric Buses in Chinese Taipei:

Gradually expanding to all electric bus stations in Chinese Taipei to meet the charging needs of approximately 12,000 city buses, with a total contracted electricity demand of about 250,000 kilowatts; This smart transport solution is extended to support all bus stations in Chinese Taipei, the anticipated quantifiable benefits are estimated to reduce the monthly contracted electricity costs by approximately 0.1 to 0.2 billion US dollars, increase the battery durability, reducing battery usage costs by around 1.5 to 2 billion US dollars every year, and considering the personnel savings at bus stations of about 0.3 billion US dollars, resulting in an overall savings up to 3 to 4 billion US dollars every year.

The smart transport solution developed by this project is accelerating the electrification policy for city bus in Chinese Taipei by 2030, replacing diesel buses by electric buses is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 548,000 tons and PM2.5 emissions by 78 tons annually; monetizing the reduction in emissions per unit of vehicle-kilometer, the benefits of reducing CO2 emissions amount to 2 billion US dollars, and the benefits of reducing air pollution (PM2.5) emissions amount to 5 billion US dollars per year. After the electrification of city buses, the fuel is replaced by electricity, resulting in savings in fuel costs, which amounts to 4 billion US dollars per year when monetized per unit of vehicle-kilometer.

Figure 12: Operation and manpower cost savings, as well as energy-saving and carbon reduction benefits, for all electric buses in Chinese Taipei

 

3.Media Coverage and Visits by Important Domestic Officials and Regional Economics

We have produced an international promotional video for this project.

After holding a showcase event of the project achievement  on December 7, 2023, several print and television media, such as Radio International and Public Television, have reported on the outcomes of this project. Taipei City Mayor Wan-An Jiang and officials from the Transportation Bureau have visited the electric bus station implemented the smart transport solution and learn the successful results of the project in Taipei City and expressed their desire to expand the project’s experience to more locations in Taipei (The Taipei City Government has demanded Taipei Metro Corporation’s metro depot to utilize available electricity to establish shared charging stations for city buses and passenger cars, and to adopt the smart charging and energy management solutions developed in this project.). Deputy Minister Yan-Bo Chen of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Chinese Taipei,  along with Director General Lin from the Department of Public Transport and Supervision and Director General Chen from the Highway Bureau, also have visited the project’s bus charging stations to understand the outcomes of this project to formulate and develop relevant policies to support the expansion.

Figure 13: The project’s pioneering smart charging and energy management solution reported in print and television media

Figure 14: Taipei City Mayor Wan-An Jiang has visited the bus station deployed the successful solution of this project in Taipei City

Figure 15: Deputy Minister Yan-Bo Chen of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Chinese Taipei,  and other senior officials also have visited the project’s bus station to learn the successful outcomes of this project

 

5.Recipient of the 2024 Smart City Innovation Award

The project  won the 2024 Smart City Innovation Award for Smart Transport in Chinese Taipei. In March 2024, Director General Lin Chi-Kuo of the Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communications represented the project to receive the award from Deputy Premier of Chinese Taipei at the 2024 Smart City Expo.

Figure 16: Director General Lin Chi-Kuo of the Institute of Transportation, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications represented the project at the 2024 Smart City Expo, receiving the 2024 Smart City Innovation Award

Figure 17: The project won the 2024 Smart City Innovation Award for Smart Transport in Chinese Taipei

In addition to receive the Smart Transport Innovation Award in the 2024 Smart City Competition, the achievements of this project were also recognized with the 2024 Digital Innovation Service Award from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Chinese Taipei.

Figure 18: The project won 2024 Digital Innovation Service Award from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Chinese Taipei

 

Internationalization

We have promoted the successful achievement of this project to governments and industry in Chinese Taipei, and the Asia-Pacific region through participation in various conferences and international exhibitions. In addition to being interviewed by several media and featured on television programs, the project will be presented at the APEC TPTWG 55th meeting to share concrete results with economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, the project achievements will also be shared at the 2024 ITS World Congress.

Figure 19: Promoting successful achievement of this project to governments agencies and smart transport industry

In terms of international deployment and expansion, the smart transport solution developed in this project adopts the international standard for charging (CCS1), which exhibits replicability and scalability for international applications. Currently, apart from several cities in Chinese Taipei (such as Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taichung City), where multiple private and public electric vehicle charging stations are in use, many economies in the Asia-Pacific region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, are adopting this system in their public transportation services. By adopting the international standard for charging (CCS1), this project not only supports the goal of achieving city bus electrification by 2030 in Chinese Taipei, but also can offer highly customizable holistic solutions based on the characteristics of climate, traffic, and power environments in cities worldwide, leveraging IoT and AI technologies. This contributes to enhancing the willingness of economies to electrify large fleets and improve urban energy management efficiency, serving as a driving force for accelerating vehicle electrification in the APEC region.

Figure 20: Domestic and International Application Sites of this project

 

Inclusivity

We have successfully promoted and deployed the Electric Bus Smart Charging Management System developed in this project, thereby achieving various benefits, including inclusivity and gender equality, fairness and justice, social resilience, and job creation.

In terms of Women Empowerment, this project empowers women in various aspects such as technical development, system operation, and related training.

Firstly, women account for 50% of the participation in the development and operation of this system, engaging in different levels of operational and managerial work, including system design, data analysis, and marketing promotion, thereby cultivating their professional capabilities in the field of technology. Secondly, in the use and management of electric bus systems, this project helps accelerate public transportation electrification, making the driving environment more comfortable and reducing noise and stress in the workplace, thereby increasing the willingness and attractiveness of women and aging workers to employment in public transportation.

In terms of Equality, the intelligent and automated features of the system developed in this project reduce the demand for labor-intensive and physically intensive work, making the operation and management of electric buses more reliable. This successfully reduces the pressure of errors and the necessity of night shifts for drivers and station staffs, freeing them from traditional gender role constraints in operating electrified transportation tools. This further expands opportunities for women and aging workers  participation in smart transport fields, thereby reducing gender and age discrimination and inequality in labor-intensive transportation work.

 

Figure 21: Achieving Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the Project

Overall, this project effectively enhances gender equality through skills training and expands employment opportunities. In addition to promoting positive impacts on energy management and smart transport , it empowers women, ensuring that both women and men can benefit from this project.

In terms of Justice, the smart charging solution developed in this project can also enhance fairness and deliver positive outcomes across various dimensions, including environmental, social, and economic aspects. Firstly, from an environmental perspective, this project aligns with global net-zero emission initiatives. By accelerating the electrification transformation of public transportation systems through intelligent infrastructure management, we not only aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also significantly mitigate the negative impact of urban traffic on air quality. This improvement enhances the quality of life for urban residents while safeguarding environmental ecosystems.

Figure 22: Delivering domestically defined equitable benefits and pursuing positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes in the Project

On the social front, this project supports gender equality and labor force development. The automation features of the smart charging system reduce labor intensity and optimize the comfort of public transportation drivers, enabling more female employees to participate in this field and promoting inclusivity in the workforce environment. Additionally, the promotion of this system will stimulate the development of the electric vehicle-related industry, creating more job opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for individuals.

Economically, this project has successfully developed a smart city vehicle charging solution, which can accelerate the electrification and modernization of public transportation in Chinese Taipei and other economies in the Asia-Pacific region. This will enhance the livability of cities in the Asia-Pacific region, attract more domestic and international investments, drive the development of EV-related industries, and promote economic growth. Moreover, by accelerating the electrification of vehicles, this project reduces reliance on traditional fuel sources, leading to energy cost savings. The project has successfully demonstrated its ability to assist electric fleet operators in reducing energy consumption by 50%, extending battery life by 20%, and increasing charging station utilization by over 25%, resulting in multifaceted economic benefits.

Overall, this project effectively achieves the equitable benefits defined domestically in Chinese Taipei, pursuing positive outcomes in environmental, social, and economic aspects, making valuable contributions to achieving various sustainability goals.

In terms of Social Inclusiveness and Resiliency development, this project represents not only a technical solution but also an endeavor towards highly resilient firms, institutions, communities, and smart cities. Our smart charging management system not only provides a more stable and efficient energy management model for public transportation systems but also enhances the operational resilience of urban electric transport systems. This ensures smooth commuting for employees of enterprises and institutions, while also improving the transportation mobility of smart cities and the accessibility of local communities. Furthermore, the application of this project’s system can strengthen the resilience of urban and community power supply. Electric buses and other commercial fleets can be viewed as mobile energy storage systems, providing emergency power supply during temporary blackouts caused by disaster events, ensuring the operation of critical industries (such as semiconductor plants) and essential domestic institutions (such as hospitals) in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the system can support the virtual power plant mechanism of power companies, providing stable power services and enhancing the resilience of regional power grid. This helps alleviate the burden on the power grid, reduce the risk of power outages, and promote the electrical safety and livability resilience of communities.

Overall, this project transforms basic energy management facilities such as private and public charging stations, once considered undesirable facilities, into guardians of urban and community safety and resilience. Beyond meeting the charging needs of various smart transport systems and ensuring the stability of the power grid, it also ensures that urban residents, enterprises, and institutions can operate normally under various climate, environmental, and natural (such as earthquakes) impacts and pressures, actively adapting and transitioning towards sustainable development.

Figure 23: Developing resilient firms, institutions, and communities and providing support for decent work and workforce development in the project

In supporting Decent Work and Workforce Development, the automation features of this system significantly reduce the need for manual operation and enhance the stability of electrified transportation systems in smart cities, reducing the intensity and pressure of work and creating a more decent working environment. This enables both male and female employees to participate more easily in the development of smart and electrified public transportation, whether in the operation of electric fleets or in the monitoring and maintenance of the system. Compared to traditional non-automated charging management models, this level of system intelligence and automation provides women with more comfortable employment opportunities and career development. Accelerating the electrification of urban vehicles through this project can improve urban air quality compared to traditional diesel buses, creating safer and more comfortable commuting environments for workers, reducing the discomfort of long commutes on diesel buses for urban and suburban residents.  Moreover, the effective and smart transport energy management can also enhance the reliability of peak commuting times, further enhancing workforce development.

 

Video for the project:

 

Criteria of 2024 ESCI  and Key Explanations on Fulfillment:

Criteria of 2024 ESCI Best Practices Awards		Key Explanations on Fulfillment
STRATEGY
Innovativeness
I	Is the innovative concept come from the project itself or other existing programs?	• The innovative concept of this project originates from the project itself. • Our innovative concept is to create the world’s first intelligent charging management system specifically tailored for electric bus fleets, and to support smart city public charging solutions for different types of vehicles. This simultaneously address the charging needs of electric buses, electric logistics vehicles, and electric passenger cars, significantly reducing the pain points of fleet operators and EV owners in electrification, enhancing the willingness to replace traditional oil vehicles, and accelerating the ultimate goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions. • This project not only aims to achieve the vision of improving energy management efficiency and achieving net-zero carbon emissions but also aims to create a standardized, automated, and inclusive ecosystem for smart transport and energy management. The project actively adopts emerging technologies including AI model and IoT system to provide highly automated integrated smart transport solutions, further reducing the workload and night shift manpower of public transport, and bringing benefits to the workforce development in the smart transport industry.
II	How the innovative policy design encourages financial support and public-private partnership?	• This project designs innovative policy encouraging financial support and public-private partnership through Chinese Taipei’s subsidization policies for bus electrification and collaboration with various stakeholders to address energy management and charging infrastructure challenges. • To accelerate the deployment and adoption of the smart transport solution developed by this project, Chinese Taipei develops policies for bus electrification to offer subsidies to support the implementation of the smart charging system. This policy support encourages bus companies to adopt smart charging, thereby increasing the utilization rates of charging station , ensuring public transport reliability and quality, and alleviating the burden on the grid. • In the process of promoting the electrification policy for buses, we have found that one of the major obstacles for bus operators in purchasing electric buses is the challenges related to charging scheduling and energy management. Therefore, we actively coordinate the cross-domain communication and collaboration involving various stakeholders, including central and local governments, software industries, and bus industries, to address these issues. we established a cross-departmental coordination mechanism and collaborated with the Industrial Bureau and the Bureau of Standards of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as the charging industry alliance, to promote the standardization of charging interfaces (CCS1+N). This facilitates the application and promotion of this project in Chinese Taipei.
III	How does the innovative concept catch the trend of future development?	• In response to the international trends of net-zero transition and digital transformation, this project address the challenges in vehicle electrification and energy management by integrating emerging AI and IoT technologies with smart transport system. • We develop innovative solutions for transport energy management, which will accelerate the pace of vehicle electrification in Chinese Taipei and the Asia-Pacific region.
Inspiration
I	Whether the idea can inspire later/subsequent cases?	• Yes, the implementation of this smart transport solution in Taipei City and its subsequent expansion to other major metropolitan areas in Chinese Taipei, as well as gradually adoption by economies in the Asia-Pacific region, serves as a clear demonstration of its potential to inspire later/subsequent cases. • In the first phase, the smart charging system was implemented in practice at the biggest electric bus  stations in Chinese Taipei , the system has demonstrated tangible application benefits over the course of operation. Building upon the successful results , the project has expanded further in three major metropolitan areas in Chinese Taipei: Taipei City, Taichung City, and New Taipei City, including both private and public charging stations (as part of collaboration between Taipei City Government, Taipei Metro Company, and bus companies ). The system is further extended to handle charging scheduling and energy management of shared electric vehicle charging stations for small vehicles, electric logistics vehicles, and electric buses. • Many economies in the Asia-Pacific region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, are adopting this system in their public transportation routes. By adopting the international standard for charging (CCS1), this project not only supports the goal of achieving city bus electrification by 2030 in Chinese Taipei, but also can offer highly customizable holistic solutions based on the characteristics of climate, traffic, and power environments in cities worldwide, leveraging IoT and AI technologies.
II	What domain has been enlightened by this policy?	• The smart transport solution and policy developed in this project not only supports charging services for different types of vehicles (such as electric buses, electric logistics vehicles, and electric cars) but also, through the application of V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, can treat electric commercial vehicle fleets such as electric buses as part of a “mobile energy storage system.” This system can provide emergency power supply for specific areas or critical infrastructure (such as hospitals) during temporary power outages caused by disasters. • It can also cooperate with the virtual power plant mechanism of power companies to dynamically provide the stored energy on buses parked in parking lots, assisting the regional grid in providing stable power services and strengthening the resilience of urban and community grid.
Clearness
I	Is there any open and transparent channel of public communication?	• Yes, we have produced an international promotional video to showcase the vision, strategy, performance, and future impact of this smart transportation solution. Please watch the video at the following link: https://reurl.cc/Rqj0lD • Several print and television media, such as Radio International and Public Television, have reported on the outcomes of this project. • The project has won the 2024 Smart City Innovation Award for Smart Transport in Chinese Taipei. In March 2024, Director Lin Chi-Guo of the Institute of Transportation, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications represented the project at the 2024 Smart City Expo, receiving the award from Deputy Premier of Chinese Taipei. • Taipei City Mayor Wan-An Jiang have visited the electric bus station implemented the smart transport solution and learn the successful results of the project in Taipei City and express their desire to expand the project’s experience to more locations in Taipei (The Taipei City Government has demand Taipei Metro Corporation’s metro depot to utilize available electricity to establish shared charging stations for city buses and passenger cars, and to adopt the smart charging and energy management solutions developed in this project.). • Deputy Minister Yan-Bo Chen of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Chinese Taipei, also have visited the project’s bus station to understand the outcomes of this project to formulate and develop relevant policies to accelerate large-scale implementation.
II	Is there any difference between this policy and other similar policies?	• The Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), has been actively assisting the MOTC in promoting the 2030 Bus Electrification Plan. We have collaborated with the Ministry to promote the policy in three stages: “Pilot Phase,” “Promotion Phase,” and “Popularization Phase,” and to establish a comprehensive policy and subsidy mechanism for bus electrification. • The most significant difference between the subsidy policy for smart charging systems and the aforementioned electric bus subsidy policy lies in the encouragement for bus operators to plan and implement efficient and intelligent charging infrastructure before purchasing electric buses. This is to avoid situations where a large number of electric buses are purchased, yet operators still struggle with issues related to land for charging facilities and energy supply. The results of this project have shown that effectively reducing the difficulties faced by bus companies in managing charging and energy when introducing electric buses. The MOTC has incorporated the achievements of this project into the electric bus subsidy scheme. In addition to maintaining existing vehicle purchase and operation subsidies, the policy has been designed to include and increase subsidies for smart charging solution developed by this project . Through central government policy support, bus companies are encouraged to adopt this smart transport solution, ensuring the quality and reliability of electric bus services.
MEASURE
Practicability
I	Has any effective measure for moving ahead been made?	• The four strategies and related measures developed by this project, namely, “Standardized Charging Interfaces,” “Establishment of Big Data Platforms and AIOT Technology,” “Cross-Unit Collaboration Testing and Smart Charging Deployment at Electric Bus Stations,” and “Promotion of Smart Charging System Subsidy Policies,” have all been effectively implemented. • We have completed the standardization of charging interfaces (CCS1+N) and integrated it with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ subsidy mechanism for electric buses. It is now a requirement for newly purchased electric buses eligible for subsidies to adopt the CCS1+N interface. • We have developed a large-scale Electric Bus Operation Data Monitoring and Management Platform and established data transmission mechanism to ensure the smooth collection of data required for the development of smart charging solutions. Utilizing the vast amount of data collected by the platform, the project has developed data analysis and AI-based models for electric bus operations. • This smart transport solution utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) information from various systems and constructs a cloud-based platform. It integrates real-time driving data for electric vehicles, dynamic fleet schedules, and charging station data, taking into account various constraints. It then automatically calculates the optimal charging power and schedules, satisfying the charging needs of fleet operation and scheduling. • We have established subsidy policies that require bus companies to integrate smart charging at charging stations. This aims to promote the successful experiences of bus stations that adopted the smart transport solution in Chinese Taipei.
II	Is there any numerical goal for reference?	• We are gradually expanding this smart transport solution into all electric bus stations in Chinse Taipei to meet the charging needs of approximately 12,000 city buses, with a total contracted electricity demand of about 250,000 kilowatts. • This smart transport solution is being extended to all bus stations in Chinese Taipei, the anticipated quantifiable benefits are estimated to reduce the monthly contracted electricity costs by approximately 0.1 to 0.2 billion US dollars, increase the battery durability, reducing battery usage costs by around 1.5 to 2 billion US dollars per year, and considering the personnel savings at bus stations of about 0.3 billion US dollars, resulting in an overall savings of 3 to 4 billion US dollars.
Replicability
I	Could the ideas, methods or techniques be applied internationally?	• Yes, the smart transport solution developed in this project can be applied internationally. By addressing challenges related to charging scheduling and energy management, it can facilitate the adoption of electric buses and enhances public transport reliability and quality of APEC economies. • In terms of international deployment and expansion, the smart transport solution developed in this project adopts the international standard for charging (CCS1), which exhibits replicability and scalability for international applications. • Currently, apart from several cities in Chinese Taipei (such as Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taichung City), where multiple private and public electric vehicle charging stations are in use, many economies in the Asia-Pacific region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, are adopting this system in their public transportation routes. • By adopting the international standard for charging (CCS1), this project not only supports the goal of achieving city bus electrification by 2030 in Chinese Taipei, but also can offer highly customizable holistic solutions based on the characteristics of climate, traffic, and power environments in cities worldwide, leveraging IoT and AI technologies.
Cost-effectiveness
I	Will it be cost-effective to implement?	• The smart transport solution developed by this project is cost-effective to implement. Its performances and benefits are outlined as follows: • (1) Significant Reduction in Manpower Costs: With the implementation of this smart transport solution, , it can save over 30-50% in manpower costs, enhancing the competitiveness of fleet operators. • (2) Extension of Battery Life: This smart transport solution has proven to extend battery life by at least 20%. • (3) Reduction in Contracted Capacity: The contracted capacity is expected to decrease by over 30-60%, leading to substantial reductions in operational costs for fleet operators. • (4) Increased Utilization and Efficiency of Charging Equipment: The ratio of vehicles and chargers was originally 1:1. Through the enhanced smart scheduling introduced in this project, the ratio can reach increase to 2-3:1 or more, and the cost of transformer stations can decrease by over 20%.
II	Is there any measurable reduction of emission or energy use? Please describe the measurement method.	• Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction Benefits for 12,000 Electric Buses in Chinese Taipei are analyzed as follows: • The smart transport solution developed by this project is accelerating the electrification policy of city bus in Chinese Taipei by 2030, replacing diesel buses with electric buses is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 548,000 tons and PM2.5 emissions by 77.94 tons annually; monetizing the reduction in emissions per unit of vehicle-kilometer, the benefits of reducing CO2 emissions amount to 60 million US dollars, and the benefits of reducing air pollution (PM2.5) emissions amount to 1.7 billion US dollars. • After the electrification of city buses, the fuel is replaced by electricity, resulting in savings in fuel costs, which amounts to 450 million US dollars when monetized per unit of vehicle-kilometer.
Consistency
I	Are adopted measures consistent with energy policy and strategy?	• The UNFCCC COP26 has called upon all parties to adopt proactive climate action plans, aiming to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. In addition , the Chairman’s Statement of the 2023 APEC Energy Ministers Meeting proposed that by 2035, around 70% of electricity generation in the APEC region’s power sector should come from carbon-neutral and carbon-neutral sources. Moreover, the APEC Transport Ministers Meeting held in 2023 also prioritized “mitigating the impacts of climate change” as one of its focus areas. • Based on the aforementioned visions of net zero development from international organizations including the United Nations and APEC, as well as the policy direction of vehicle electrification in Chinese Taipei, in March 2022, Chinese Taipei announced its “2050 Net Zero Emissions Pathway and Strategy,” presenting 12 key strategies. Among them, “Full Electrification of  Buses by 2030” stands out as a crucial policy, marking a significant step towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050 for Chinese Taipei. • Chinese Taipei is actively promoting the Electrification Plan for Buses by 2030. This project has implemented strategies and relevant measures to assist fleet operators in optimizing electric bus energy management, smart charging, and operational management, thus accelerating the promotion of bus electrification by 2030.
II	Is there any long-term measure or implementing organization for this project?	• We, the Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), has been actively assisting the MOTC in promoting the 2030 Bus Electrification Plan. We have established a cross-departmental coordination mechanism and collaborated with the department  of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as the charging industry alliance , to promote the standardization of charging interfaces (CCS1+N). This facilitates the application and promotion of this project in Chinese Taipei. • We have completed the standardization of charging interfaces (CCS1+N) and integrated it with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ subsidy mechanism for electric buses. It is now a requirement for newly purchased electric buses eligible for subsidies to adopt the CCS1+N interface. • In addition to establishing standardized charging interfaces, operational data transmission mechanisms, and system validation processes, we continue to collaborate with the Charging Industry Alliance to assist fleet operators in adopting suitable smart charging and AI technology applications based on their needs and infrastructure conditions. The relevant development outcomes are incorporated into the Ministry of Transportation’s subsidy guidelines for electric buses. These guidelines require bus companies to integrate smart charging at charging stations.
PERFORMANCE
Completeness
I	Is the achievement scale measurable?	The measurable achievement of this project are as follows: • Reduction in manpower costs after implementing this smart transportation solution, extension of battery life and reduction in battery replacement costs through automated adjustment of charging rate, decrease in charging time scheduling resulting in significant time savings, lowering of contract capacity and energy operation costs, increase in utilization rate of existing charging stations and reduction in construction costs of new charging stations. Overall, by measuring the aforementioned key indicators, significant reduction in operating costs for fleet operators can be achieved. • Furthermore, due to the acceleration of fleet operators’ adoption of electric buses over diesel buses by this smart transportation solution, CO2 and pollution (PM2.5) emissions are reduced. Shifting from traditional fuel to electricity also saves fuel costs and contributes concretely to environmental protection.
II	Will it make a considerable success in project goals?	• This project has made significant strides towards achieving its goals. Firstly, it has demonstrated a remarkable reduction in manpower costs, showcasing savings of up to 30-50% through the implementation of this smart transport solution. Secondly, the extension of battery life by at least 20% underscores the project’s effectiveness in meeting its objectives. Additionally, the substantial reduction in contracted capacity by over 30-60% signifies the project’s success in driving down operational costs for fleet operators. Moreover, the increased utilization and efficiency of charging equipment, leading to a higher vehicle-to-charger ratio and reduced costs of transformer stations by over 20%, further solidify the project’s achievement in fulfilling its goals. • Furthermore, the analysis of energy-saving and carbon reduction benefits for 12,000 electric buses in Chinese Taipei exemplifies the project’s broader impact and alignment with its objectives. By accelerating the electrification policy of city buses and replacing diesel buses with electric ones, the project is estimated to significantly reduce CO2 and PM2.5 emissions annually. Monetizing these emissions reductions reveals substantial economic benefits, with savings amounting to billions of US dollars. Additionally, the project’s vision of improving smart city energy management efficiency and creating a standardized, automated, and inclusive ecosystem for smart transport and energy management not only underscores its success but also positions it as a pioneering force in promoting net-zero and digital transformation in smart cities, both in Chinese Taipei and across the Asia-Pacific region.
Verifiability
I	Is there any data presented to support the project?	• Using the biggest electric bus station in Chinese Taipei as an example, the energy management performance data of this station, which has implemented our smart transportation solution, includes: -Achieving over 30% savings in manpower costs. – When the battery state of charge (SOC) is below 30% or above 90%, the system automatically reduces the charging load to 0.3C, which has been verified to extend battery life by at least 20%. – Reduction in contracted capacity by over 30-60%. – With the implementation of this smart transportation solution, the ratio of vehicles to chargers can be adjusted from the original 54:54 to 74:54. In the future, if daytime scheduling is introduced, the vehicle-to-charger ratio can be increased to 2-3:1 or more.
II	Is there any supportive measurement or reference for the provided data?	• This smart transport solution utilizes interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) information from various systems and constructs a cloud-based platform. It integrates real-time driving data for electric vehicles (including license plate information, GPS data, state of charge (SOC), and battery temperature), dynamic fleet schedules (including license plates, routes, and rest times), and charging station data (including charger status, power, and contracted capacity). It analyzes the remaining battery levels of all vehicles, their departure order, and the power demand for each trip, taking into account various constraints such as daytime, nighttime, peak, and off-peak periods. It then automatically calculates the optimal charging power and schedules, satisfying the charging needs of fleet operation and scheduling. • Furthermore, advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are incorporated. The system utilizes long-term accumulated operational data and incorporates the AI energy consumption model. This model continuously updates in real-time with rolling data and predicts energy consumption values under different traffic and battery conditions. It automatically issues charging commands based on these predictions, optimally arranging charging power according to battery characteristics, and tracking battery health throughout its lifecycle based on accumulated charge and discharge records. This development aims to create a comprehensive and fully automated smart charging solution.
Impact
I	Will it make a significant change in the field of energy efficiency and energy saving?	• This project has made a significant impact in the field of energy efficiency and energy saving. Firstly, by gradually expanding this smart transport solution to all electric bus stations in Chinese Taipei, the project anticipates substantial quantifiable benefits. These include reducing monthly contracted electricity costs by approximately 0.1 to 0.2 billion US dollars, increasing battery durability, and reducing battery usage costs by around 1.5 to 2 billion US dollars per year. The project is poised to achieve overall savings of 3 to 4 billion US dollars. These tangible benefits demonstrate the project’s significant potential to bring about a transformative change in energy efficiency and savings within the transport sector. • By accelerating the electrification policy of city buses through adopting this smart transport solution, the project is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 548,000 tons and PM2.5 emissions by 77.94 tons annually. By replacing oil with electric energy and strategically utilizing off-peak charging periods for electric buses, the project enhances overall energy utilization efficiency, further consolidating its role in driving significant change in the field of energy efficiency and savings.。
II	Will it impact multiple operational areas or just single specific area?	• This project will impact multiple operational areas rather than just a single specific area. Firstly, it addresses the pressing need for innovative solutions in smart city transportation energy management, aligning with international trends of net-zero transition and digital transformation. By accelerating vehicle electrification in Chinese Taipei and the Asia-Pacific region, the project demonstrates its broad impact across various operational domains within the transportation sector. Specifically, it has developed the world’s first intelligent charging management system tailored for electric bus fleets, filling a crucial gap in existing charging systems that primarily cater to passenger cars. Moreover, the project’s commitment to building electrified vehicle energy management and charging integration services within smart cities extends beyond electric buses to include electric logistics vehicles and passenger cars. • By treating electric commercial vehicle fleets as part of a “mobile energy storage system,” the project extends its reach to emergency power supply for specific areas or critical infrastructure during temporary power outages caused by disasters. Stored energy from parked buses can assist the regional grid in delivering stable power services. This innovative approach strengthens the resilience of urban and community grids, showcasing the project’s comprehensive impact on multiple operational areas, from smart transport to energy management and beyond.
GENDER
Women Empowerment
I	Will the project empower women through education, training, skill development, or access to capital and markets?	• This project significantly empowers women through education, training, and skill development. Firstly, women’s participation in the development and operation of the system is notable, comprising 50% of the workforce. They engage in various roles, from system design to data analysis and marketing promotion, fostering their professional capabilities in technology. • Secondly, the project’s impact on public transportation electrification creates a more comfortable driving environment, reducing noise and stress in the workplace. This improvement increases the attractiveness of employment in public transportation, particularly for women, thus contributing to their empowerment through enhanced access to employment opportunities.
II	Will the project make a positive impact on gender equality or benefit both women and men?	• This project demonstrates a clear commitment to making a positive impact on gender equality by benefiting both women and men. Through its intelligent and automated features, the smart transport solution reduces the demand for labor-intensive work, thus relieving bus drivers and station staff from traditional gender role constraints. This shift away from physically intensive tasks reduces pressure and eliminates the need for night shifts, promoting a more equitable work environment for both genders. • Additionally, by expanding opportunities for women’s participation in the smart transport sector, the project actively works towards reducing gender discrimination and inequality in labor-intensive transportation roles.
JUST TRANSITION
Just
I	Will the project deliver domestically defined equitable benefits, and pursue positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes?	• This project unquestionably delivers domestically defined equitable benefits and pursuing positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes. Firstly, from an environmental perspective, the project aligns with global net-zero emission initiatives by accelerating the electrification transformation of public transportation systems. This not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also improves urban air quality, enhancing the quality of life for residents while safeguarding environmental ecosystems. Additionally, on the social front, the project supports gender equality and labor force development through its automation features, which reduce labor intensity and optimize the comfort of public transportation drivers. This promotes inclusivity in the workforce environment and stimulates the development of the electric vehicle-related industry, creating more job opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for individuals. • Economically, the project’s development of a smart city vehicle charging solution accelerates the electrification and modernization of public transportation, enhancing the livability of cities in the Asia-Pacific region. This attracts both domestic and international investments, drives the development of EV-related industries, and promotes economic growth. Moreover, by reducing reliance on traditional fuel sources, the project leads to energy cost savings and multifaceted economic benefits. With achievements such as reducing energy consumption by 50%, extending battery life by 20%, and increasing charging station utilization by over 25%, the project effectively contributes to achieving various sustainability goals while delivering equitable benefits and positive outcomes across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Inclusiveness
I	Will the project create resilient firms, institutions, and communities, and provide support for decent work and workforce development?	• This project is definitely helpful to create resilient firms, institutions, and communities, while also providing support for decent work and workforce development. Firstly, it represents a significant step towards resilience development by providing stable and efficient energy management for public transportation systems. By enhancing the operational resilience of urban electric transport systems, it ensures smooth commuting for employees and improves transportation mobility in smart cities. • Moreover, the project’s system strengthens urban and community power supply resilience by utilizing electric buses and commercial fleets as mobile energy storage systems, providing emergency power during temporary blackouts caused by disasters. This supports critical industries and essential institutions, such as semiconductor plants and hospitals, in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to community resilience. • Furthermore, the project supports decent work and workforce development by transforming energy management facilities into guardians of grid resilience. It not only meets the charging needs of smart transport systems but also ensures the stability of the power grid, enabling normal operations for residents, firms, and institutions under various environmental and natural pressures. This proactive approach to sustainability fosters a resilient workforce and promotes workforce development, aligning with the project’s broader goals of creating resilient firms, institutions, and communities.