SORT Introduction - UITP

02/06/2021
Introduction
SORT protocol
Electric range of urban buses in public transport
GRPE workshop on low- and zero-emissions heavy duty vehicles : Regulatory

gaps and expected legislators' needs
2 June 2021 : 12.00 – 15.45
Overview of SORT use, in Europe and outside
History
• Since 2004, UITP has been editing a standardized protocol, aiming at
comparing the energy consumption of buses.
• First dedicated to 12 meter diesel buses, it has been gradually
extended to all bus sizes (from midi-buses to articulated or double-
decker vehicles), and to all energy sources (liquid or gaseous fuels,
electricity) in any combination.
• This methodology results from a collaboration between operators,
testing track facilities, bus and gearbox manufacturers.
• Called “SORT” (for “Standardized On Road Testcycle”), this protocol is
now well renown in the public transport sector.
Objectives
• SORT methodology allows bus operators to compare energy
consumption of buses in a standardized way, without needing any
specific customer testing.
• 3 different driving cycles have been defined, each corresponding to a
typical commercial speed (12, 18 and 25 km/h).
• For any specific operating condition, a realistic consumption can be
predicted by an appropriate combination of 1 to 3 SORT
consumptions.
• Note: energy consumption from auxiliaries not stricly necessary to bus
propulsion, like heating or air-conditionning, can not be predicted by
SORT tests, as these devices are switched off during the tests; these
consumptions will be addressed in a standardized way in the next
revision of « Tender Structure Document ».
Concept
SORT protocol applicability
Full electric & plug-in

2017
hybrids
2015 Gaseous fuels
2015 Double-deck buses
2014 Non plug-in hybrids
2009 9 to 18 m single deck buses
2004 12 m single deck diesel

buses
How to use SORT protocol as an operator?
• The main parameter is the average speed of the line (called « commercial speed »)
• This speed allows to chose weighing factors between SORT 1 (12 km/h), SORT 2 (18
km/h) and SORT 3 (25 km/h)
• Notice that the weighing factors:

• Do not apply to the speeds, but to the consumptions!
• Do not have to sum-up to 100%!
• For example:
• For a commercial speed of 25 km/h, use only SORT 3 consumption

• For a commercial speed of 16 km/h, use a combination of SORT 1 & SORT 2 (for
example: 0.7/0.3)
• You may need to adjust these factors by iteration, based on existing data
How to use SORT protocol as a bus manufacturer?
For each SORT cycle needed by the operator, let the energy
consumption be measured, either in-house, or by an independant test
track facility
Rem.: in case of in-house measurment, the operator is allowed to ask for
a counter-test prior to, or after, bus delivery
These data will be valid for answering each tender referring to SORT
cycles.
How to use SORT protocol as a test track facility?
For each SORT cycle needed by the manufacturer, measure the energy
consumption, in accordance to applicable protocol.
Rem.: always check UITP website for the latest version.
E-SORT main specificities
1. The usable energy of Rechargeable
Energy Storing System (“RESS”) has to
be measured, during a simple static
test.
2. The energy consumption has to be

measured for each required SORT
cycle, following classical cycles.
E-SORT main specificities
1. The maximal achievable zero

emission range has to be
calculated, based on the results of
these tests and on auxiliaries’
consumption, estimated in
accordance to tender documents
SORT Use (2017 survey)
Q1 : Have you ever asked for « SORT » values in your tenders ?
32 ANSWERS
NO
11
YES
21
YES NO
66 % 34 %
RESULTS (2017 survey)
FUEL PROPORTIONS
DIESEL 93 % / BIO 7 %
33% HIBRID DIESEL
3%
D - CNG HYBRID
1%
DIESEL
63%
DIESEL
DIESEL 93 % / BIO 7 %
HIBRID DIESEL
D - CNG HYBRID
Results (2017 survey)
Q2 : Do you have comparative results between SORT values & real operation values ?
= Diesel
Fuel Consumption Ratio = Diesel 93 % / Bio 7 %
1.60 Operation Cons. / SORT Cons. = Hibrid Diesel
1.50 = D-CNG-HYBRID
1.40
1.30
AVERAGE
1.20
CONSUMPTION RATIO
1.10 =
0,98
1.00
0.90
0.80
0.70
174 bus series
0.60
7.500 BUSES
0.50
> 750.000.000 Km in Operation
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
SORT roadmap: Coordination w ith EU and ACEA on CO 2 regulation
SORT
• Simulation of fuel consumption with a • Measurement of fuel consumption based on standardized

standardized VECTO tool drivecycle and protocol
• Regulated process, standardized component • UITP-described process, excluding HVAC (ongoing process).
measurements, administrative fines, … controlled
by TS and TAA • Execution under control of OEM and TS; affordable counter
tests manageable by the customer
• One procedure for ICE, HEV, BEV. Tender for
FuelCell integration available. • Available and in use for all technologies (diesel, gas, hybrids,
EV…).
• Values determined for each individual vehicle
(delivered and registered) • Values determined for types of vehicle (chosen by OEMs)
SORT
Requirements from the PTO/PTA’s to rely on VECTO results instead of SORT data for
purchasing:
• PROVIDE RELIABLE DATA  knowledge sharing on VECTO assumptions and simulation

models
• ENSURE DATA ACCURACY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE “VECTO” DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
 keep the on-road verification as part of the official VECTO procedure
 monitor the data at EU level, and provide a warning mechanism to allow users to report if
observed values out of specifications
SORT
Requirements from the PTO/PTA’s to rely on VECTO results instead of SORT data for
purchasing:
• PROVIDE RELEVANT DATA IN THE CUSTOMER SHEET

 one value for each energy source (fuel, electricity…) and for each driving cycle, to
allow each end-user to convert them in relevant units (energy budget, GHG impact…),
based on its own context (electricity mix, energy prices…).
• POSSIBILITY TO RUN VECTO BASED ON A SPECIFIC REAL-LIFE DRIVING CYCLE

 this use of VECTO tool should be as easy as possible, to refine the energy use estimation
on each specific network
• INCLUDE ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

SORT  VECTO convergence plan:
Step 1: “White Book” under review by Bus Committee experts (Q2/2021)

Position paper under revision between UITP & ACEA (Q2/2021)
Step 2: Simulations to be run using VECTO simulation AND SORT driving cycle
for comparison with already available SORT measurements (Q3/2021 
Q4/2022)
Step 3: progressive switch from SORT measurement to VECTO data?

SORT roadmap: next steps
Thermal comfort for buses: ongoing process:
1. Standardized way to measure passengers’ satisfaction in terms of thermal comfort:
 define standardised procedure to monitor satisfaction levels of passenger comfort whilst

minimising the energy use and wear of the HVAC (Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning) system
 Particularly relevant on zero emission busses to maximize range, but also important to help
reducing the carbon footprint of all modes of buses.
 Standardized way to describe climatic requirements in each tender document
2. Standardized way to measure energy used by HVAC system

Active contributors
Industry:
ADL, BAE, EBUSCO, EVOBUS, GREEN PROPULSION, HESS, HISPACOLD, MAN, SAFRA,
SCANIA, SOLARIS, VAN HOOL, VDL, VOITH, VOLVO, YUTONG, ZF…
Operators:
Barcelona, London, Madrid, Torino, RATP, TEC, TRANSDEV, VDV, KEOLIS, ARRIVA, De Lijn,
Beograd…
Proving grounds:
MILLBROOK, TNO, VTT, TÜV, IDIADA.
References
Arno KERKHOF (UITP): arno.kerkhof@uitp.org

Christophe MARTIN (TEC): christophe.martin@letec.be
https://www.uitp.org/publications/uitp-sort-e-sort-brochures/
Pour Master brochure SORT 2014

Main entry : https://mylibrary.uitp.org/Record.htm?idlist=132&record=19267648124910858209
Version Chinoise: https://mylibrary.uitp.org/PermaLinkRecord.htm?archive=181681390986
Pour brochure E-sort 2017

Main entry : https://mylibrary.uitp.org/Record.htm?record=19310909124911381819
Version Chinoise: https://mylibrary.uitp.org/PermaLinkRecord.htm?archive=181680290986

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02/06/2021

Electric range of urban buses in public transport

GRPE workshop on low- and zero-emissions heavy duty vehicles : Regulatory

Full electric & plug-in

2015 Gaseous fuels

2015 Double-deck buses

2014 Non plug-in hybrids

2009 9 to 18 m single deck buses

2004 12 m single deck diesel

• Notice that the weighing factors:

• For a commercial speed of 25 km/h, use only SORT 3 consumption

2. The energy consumption has to be

1. The maximal achievable zero

Q1 : Have you ever asked for « SORT » values in your tenders ?

• Simulation of fuel consumption with a • Measurement of fuel consumption based on standardized

• PROVIDE RELIABLE DATA  knowledge sharing on VECTO assumptions and simulation

• PROVIDE RELEVANT DATA IN THE CUSTOMER SHEET

• POSSIBILITY TO RUN VECTO BASED ON A SPECIFIC REAL-LIFE DRIVING CYCLE

• INCLUDE ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

SORT  VECTO convergence plan:

Step 1: “White Book” under review by Bus Committee experts (Q2/2021)

Step 3: progressive switch from SORT measurement to VECTO data?

Thermal comfort for buses: ongoing process:

1. Standardized way to measure passengers’ satisfaction in terms of thermal comfort:

 define standardised procedure to monitor satisfaction levels of passenger comfort whilst

 Standardized way to describe climatic requirements in each tender document

2. Standardized way to measure energy used by HVAC system

Arno KERKHOF (UITP): arno.kerkhof@uitp.org

Pour Master brochure SORT 2014

Pour brochure E-sort 2017

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