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UAB “Klaipėdos paslaugos” (further – KP) provides regular passenger transport services in the city of Klaipeda, suburban areas, as well as intercity, and international routes. It is the largest passenger transportation company in Klaipeda and one of the largest companies specialising in this passenger transport in Lithuania. Klaipedos paslaugos is 100 percent owned by Klaipėda city municipality and has been providing public transport service for more than 30 years. In addition to the main service of passenger transportation, KP offers a range of related services: renting buses for trips and excursions; shipment transportation services; Baggage storage services; Selling tickets for international routes; Renting advertising space on buses; Providing transportation technical maintenance services. Organisation serves 55 routes in Klaipeda city and owns/leases a total of 123 vehicles. Approximately 19,6 million passengers are transported annually. The company has approximately 300 employees. The authorised capital of KP is 8,7 M eur.
Moving towards a passenger fleet powered with alternative fuels (such as electricity or hydrogen fuel) will be mandatory for all urban public transport operators by 2030 as per National law of alternative fuels. Considering that hydrogen production, charging infrastructure and vehicles are still scarce and expensive, the most likely alternative fuel selected by public transport operators will be electricity. Electric buses are expected to completely replace fossil-fuelled public transport vehicles in Lithuania and the EU also by 2030. KP owns/leases more 123 service vehicles. KP is one of the first ones in Lithuania using electric buses for urban public transport routes. KP successfully piloted 2 electric buses for a year and is expecting to increase its electric fleet to 33 vehicles until the end of 2024. As a result in two years the company will have a total of 35 electric buses running on regular routes in Klaipeda city streets.
Currently, fuel costs are one of the largest operational costs. As a result of shifting to electric vehicles, energy costs are expected to become one of the main costs’ drivers in passenger transport operators’ cost structure. To manage these costs, KP is looking into a possibility to apply eco-driving principles to public transport buses. Organisation realises the challenge and scope of change required to move to a fully electric fleet and aims to prepare for the change by learning about the most efficient ways to operate electric vehicles, plan service considering restrictions of electric vehicles and upskilling employees, especially drivers.
While eco-driving is well-established in logistics, its application in public transport is less explored. However, evidence shows that implementing eco-driving practices can lead to energy consumption reductions of up to 10% per driving shift. Conserving energy not only reduces costs but also helps extend battery life, as frequent charging can degrade batteries, and provides actionable data-driven insights to improve drivers’ performance in an accurate and transparent manner.
The challenge, therefore, lies in developing a comprehensive solution that addresses two aspects: reducing operational costs and providing actionable data-driven insights to improve drivers’ performance. By combining these elements, KP can enhance the eco-driving performance of their electric buses, improve energy efficiency, and optimize operational costs. The solution should provide data-driven insights, real-time feedback, and actionable recommendations to drivers, enabling them to make informed decisions that align with eco-driving principles and maximize the benefits of electric bus technology.
As the electric fleet is expected to expand significantly across Europe in the coming years, there is a growing demand for data-driven eco-driving tools. KP sees an opportunity to contribute to the development of a OptiDrive that fills this market gap and supports the efficient operation of their electric fleet and the broader public transport sector.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Grant Agreement 101071212.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
