Thesis - Energy Mapping and Optimization for Electric Bus Fleets
The Stockholm region is growing rapidly, with increasing numbers of people commuting to, from, and within the county. Rapid population growth and rising passenger expectations require a more attractive and efficient public transport system. The expanding region also creates challenges related to road network capacity, environmental impact, and climate change.
The aims not only to provide an attractive public transport experience for existing passengers, but also to strengthen the competitiveness of public transport and encourage more people to choose sustainable travel options. In this way, public transport becomes an important part of solving Stockholm’s future mobility challenges.
Background
As Stockholm's bus fleet electrifies, energy management becomes a critical operational challenge: heating and cooling alone can account for 30 to 50% of total consumption. This thesis is part of ElbusTransTherm, a KTH research project run in parallel across four theses, one per operator, so your work sits alongside a small cohort of students tackling the same problem from different angles.
Purpose
Project highlightsIndustry data and placement. Work directly with fleet telemetry from a commercial Stockholm public transport operator, and in collaboration with SL.A shared cohort. Four parallel theses across different operators mean regular contact with peers, potentially from other technical backgrounds, working the same core problem, with shared methodology and a joint results seminar at the end.Applied AI and data science. Large-scale real data analysis and modeling, directly relevant to careers in energy, mobility, and industrial AI.Open research problem. Energy mapping and thermal-battery optimization for electric buses is an active, unresolved research area, with outputs intended for operational use. Academic rigour in thesis is ensured through academic supervisor from KTH.Method and implementation
Phase 1, Energy Mapping. Develop a detailed empirical breakdown of fleet energy use across drivetrain, HVAC, and auxiliaries, by time of day, season, and route. Deliverable: a data-driven Sankey diagram with quantitative variance analysis identifying key energy drivers.
Phase 2, Optimization. Choose one of three tracks:Track A, Passenger-Centric Climate Control: Dynamic thermal modeling and ISO 7730 comfort analysis to develop adaptive HVAC strategies (preconditioning schedules, adaptive setpoints, comfort-energy decision tools).Track B, Integrated Thermal-Energy Management: Electro-thermal vehicle modeling linking battery health, powertrain efficiency, and HVAC demand, to reduce energy use and extend battery lifespan.Track C, Managing Operational Phases: understanding the operational phases in electric bus operations (pre-conditional, dead-heading, in depot etc) and energy consumption across different parameters and optimisation possibilities.Both tracks contribute to a reusable data pipeline and analysis methodology intended for operational deployment.
Your education and experience
Open to students across relevant fields: energy systems, mechanical/thermal engineering, data science, machine learning, electrical engineering, or applied mathematics, with an interest in modeling, optimization, or applied AI, and the ability to work with real-world data.
Supervisor
Erik Dunkars, Energy Strategist
Contact Information
Erik Dunkars, Trafikförvaltningen Region Stockholm, [email protected]
If you have any questions regarding this thesis project, please contact the supervisor, Erik Dunkars, at [email protected] For all other inquiries, please contact [email protected].
Application
All thesis projects at the are published on the Student Collaborations at the Traffic Administration – Region Stockholm website as well as on the KTH Degree Project Portal.
Applications must be submitted through our recruitment system. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications via email.
Apply today, as interviews may be conducted on an ongoing basis. The final application date is 4th of November.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Where are we Located?
The offices of the are located on Kungsholmen in Stockholm, at Lindhagensgatan 100.
About us
According to our employees, our collective expertise and shared commitment are what distinguish our organization. We also have managers and leaders who actively work to create and maintain an open and inclusive working environment.
Together, we contribute to the development of the Stockholm region by building and continuously improving a sustainable, modern, and accessible public transport system for 2.3 million residents.
Our mission: the shared journey.
Website and Social Media
To learn more about what it is like to work with us, visit our careers page:
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Keywords: Energy mapping, electric bus fleet
Vi är stolta samhällsutvecklare. Med kompetens och engagemang tar vi Stockholm och kollektivtrafiken framåt. Vi ansvarar för SL, Waxholmsbolaget, Färdtjänsten och Spårvägsmuseet och tillsammans utvecklar vi en trygg, attraktiv och tillgänglig kollektivtrafik för nära 900 000 resenärer. Följ med oss på resan!
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