What the study found
The study found that electric minibus taxis may be deployed in Stellenbosch’s paratransit system without fundamental operational restructuring if charging infrastructure and charging management match service and grid constraints. It also found that home charging, depot charging limits, charging power, and grid carbon intensity all shape operational and environmental outcomes.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say this matters because paratransit, which is informal or shared public transport, is the dominant mode of public transport in much of sub-Saharan Africa, and electrifying it is complicated by decentralized operations, adaptive driver behavior, and limited charging infrastructure. The study suggests that aligning charging strategy with these constraints is important for service quality and emissions reductions.
What the researchers tested
The researchers presented a modular agent-based simulation framework for electric minibus taxis. The model explicitly represented driver route, stopping, and charging decisions using discrete choice and opportunity-cost concepts, and it was calibrated and validated with GPS-based operating data from Stellenbosch, South Africa.
What worked and what didn't
Constrained depot charging was associated with longer passenger waits and fewer trips served, especially at high electric vehicle adoption levels. Home charging consistently reduced depot congestion and helped preserve service quality, while increasing connector power improved outcomes but with limited gains beyond 22 kW per connector. Depot-only charging concentrated load during operating hours, whereas home charging shifted demand to evening residential peaks, and emissions reductions depended strongly on grid carbon intensity.
What to keep in mind
The results come from a Stellenbosch case study, so the findings are specific to that setting and the scenarios tested. The abstract does not describe additional limitations beyond the dependence of outcomes on charging infrastructure, charging management, and grid carbon intensity.
Key points
- The study modeled electric minibus taxi operations with an agent-based simulation framework.
- Driver choices included routing, stopping, idling, and charging decisions.
- Constrained depot charging increased passenger waits and reduced the number of trips served.
- Home charging reduced depot queues and helped maintain service quality.
- Charging power improvements had limited gains beyond 22 kW per connector in this case study.
- Emissions reductions depended strongly on grid carbon intensity.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Electric minibus taxis can retain service quality with aligned charging
- Authors:
- J.T. Sello, MJ BOOYSEN
- Institutions:
- Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch University, Uganda Christian University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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