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  2. What we do
  4. Electric Vehicles

Zero Emission Vehicles

WSP’s global team of experts are thought leaders in the adoption of zero emission vehicles in public and private fleets across the globe.

Cities around the world are being hit with record levels of smog and congestion from fossil fuel-based transportation modes. 

WSP’s team of experts are helping the adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in public and private transit battery electric bus (BEB) fleets across the globe. Our experts use innovative technology and design solutions to make the complex problem of reducing fleet emissions into an achievable decarbonization strategy.

WSP is working with policy makers, fleet operators, and various levels of government to achieve carbon-free mobility through the adoption of zero emission vehicles and bus fleets. We specialize in solving complex problems such as reducing a city’s or region’s air pollution through the adoption of emerging electric propulsion technology. Our areas of practice include:

Zero Emission Vehicles

  • Zero Emission Vehicle Policy and Planning
  • Charging Infrastructure Design and Policy
  • Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Market Scan
  • Vehicle Lifecycle Cost
  • Benefit/Cost Analyses
  • Fleet Acquisition
  • Facilities Master Planning and Design
  • Charging Alternatives Strategies (including Microgrid Feasibility Analyses)
  • Grid Impact and Utility Strategy

 

Battery Electric Buses

  • BEB Market and Supply Chain Scans
  • Charging Analysis (end point and on route)
  • Electric Route Simulation
  • Electric vs. Diesel vs. CNG (total cost of ownership)
  • Environmental Impact Analysis
  • Bus Maintenance Facility Design - Electric Vehicles
  • Standard Operating Procedures - Electric Vehicles
  • Operations and Maintenance Analysis
  • Training and GAP Analysis
  • Vehicle Technical Specification – Electric
  • BEB Pilot Monitoring and Development
  • BEB Feasibility Studies and Strategy
  • Social Equity (Title VI) Impacts Analysis
  • Change Management Strategy
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White paper

Transitioning to Zero
Emission Technology

Download White Paper

Customized Tools

Green Fleet IQ Tool - Low Carbon Fleet Scenario Analysis

WSP's Green Fleet IQ scenario planning tool enables comparison of different alternative fleet scenarios, and the feasibility of low carbon technology adoptions from a triple bottom line approach.

When developing the fleet strategy and the associated capital and operating costs, WSP takes a holistic approach with fleet and infrastructure to include the following aspects:

  • Facility and infrastructure upgrades
  • On-site equipment cost
  • Power transmission/fuel delivery to site
  • Fleet capital and operating cost
  • Tooling upgrades and personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Staff training (high voltage safety)
  • Fleet emissions

The Green Fleet IQ tool will enable comparison of scenarios in terms of net present value (NPV) as well as annual capital and operating costs over the forecast period of the fleet strategy. Furthermore, the tool can enable the cost-benefit analysis of investment cost against the magnitude of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and identify any constraints in achieving GHG reduction targets.

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Simulation Tools for transit and non-transit fleets

WSP developed several analytic tools for evaluating bus performance in our clients’ real-world operating environments. Our first, Battery Optimization and Lifecycle Tool (BOLT),  is a detailed simulation for heavy-duty battery electric bus (BEB) fleet operation. BOLT helps government agencies and operators quickly and easily identify the best routes for electrification as well as predicting energy consumption at depots. Lightning BOLT has been developed as a sketch planning tool designed to help clients evaluate BEB and fuel cell bus deployments at a network level, and to help clients perform a variety of “what if” scenarios under different operating characteristics, using current and future technology changing and using a variety of bus fleet options.

Both tools incorporate local analysis of numerous electrification scenarios, considering all the critical factors needed to simulate scheduled operations of a BEB or ZEV fleet to determine energy consumption, evaluate range performance and lifecycle operating cost. This allows simulation of a fleet owner’s entire network to create a system network Electrifiable Index (EI). The EI identifies the routes that can be electrified, potential routes for near-term conversion and a recommended path to guide a long-term transition to a zero-emission fleet.

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Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Assessment Tool

Our TBL Tool takes a holistic approach to understanding the financial, environmental and social benefits of the zero-emission fleet and facilities, including facility and infrastructure upgrades, fleet capital and operating costs, tooling upgrades, fleet emissions and more. This tool can assist fleet owners to compare various transition models and forecast the overall transition cost.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Tool

The TCO tool analyses the total cost of owning the existing bus fleet against equivalent ZEVs. The result is an Equivalent Annual Cost (EAC) that’s comparable across the various propulsion types at one or several agreed lifecycles for each type (e.g. 18 years for diesel versus 13 years for ZEB).


The complete model will include costs associated with all asset life stages in procurement, operations and maintenance, overhaul/rehabilitation, and disposition.

WSP Involvement Across the World

Our EV experts are active on all continents to help in the establishment of transportation programs that will have long-lasting results.

In Canada, WSP is currently conducting electric bus feasibility studies for Winnipeg Transit and Calgary Transit, and has worked with Halifax Transit.

In the US, WSP provided electric vehicle charging infrastructure design for IndyGO (Indianapolis, Indiana) and conducted a comprehensive feasibility study for King County Metro Transit (Seattle, Washington), which has the largest fleet order of electric buses in the US today. The feasibility study WSP provided Massport determined actual route conditions at Boston Logan International Airport for a prototype induction powered bus.

WSP is also leading the team that is developing a Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Master Plan for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), which includes modification of 13 directly operated and privately own bus depots that support L.A. County’s service network, procurement of 2,300-plus heavy-duty transit buses and deployment on 165 routes throughout the Metro’s massive service area. Deliverables include a framework for vehicle procurement and facilities master planning, and contract specifications and strategic consulting.

Additionally, WSP is leading team that is supporting the development of a ZEB master plan for New Jersey Transit, the nation’s second-largest public transit agency in the U.S., with an equally ambitious goal for a zero-emission fleet transition plan.

WSP has also worked on electric bus projects in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

In South America, WSP is working with Lima, Peru government representatives and global NGOs on a project to introduce electrified urban public transit via battery electric buses (BEBs). WSP is involved in the feasibility study, pilot and monitoring project phases.

In the UK, WSP has helped develop policy around London’s private electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure. WSP also conducted multiple feasibility studies in Sweden for the adoption of electric buses.