A system-of-systems approach to electrifying popular transport

An AI-generated, podcast-style, audio overview of "A system-of-systems framework for planning the electrification of paratransit" by MJ (Thinus) Booysen, Chris Joseph Adams, and Brendan Pretorius.

A system-of-systems framework is designed to plan and simulate the electrification of informal, unscheduled public transport, known as popular transportation or paratransit, primarily in Global South cities.

This framework is essential because conventional electrification models are inadequate for decentralized systems like South Africa's minibus taxis. The methodology systematically integrates five technical components—passenger demand, driver behavior, vehicle dynamics, charging infrastructure, and grid impacts—with institutional factors, emphasizing the need for a just transition.

The challenge of electrifying popular transportation is not just a technical problem, but as a high-impact investment opportunity that addresses three critical areas simultaneously: climate mitigation, grid stability, and social equity (a "just transition").

Key concepts like the vehicle-day (modeling a single day's operation for one vehicle) and a prioritization matrix are introduced as tools to help planners and policymakers focus scarce resources effectively, especially in contexts characterized by weak grids or limited data availability.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide decision-support for designing feasible and equitable EV strategies that account for driver autonomy and high capital costs.

Pop Research Robot is produced by the Shared-Use Mobility Center and the Global Network for Popular Transportation.

(This episode is a re-issue of our pilot episode. The audio overview is all-original and re-produced from the source document.)