Sustainable Electric Vehicle Transportation
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This manuscript provides some policy recommendations that are likely to promote the electric vehicle market in South Africa. The article seemed interesting to me, relevant for sustainable development, the title of the paper reflects its content. But this is an overview article and would suit for no-scientific journals. And the research is not of high value and is not applicable to other countries. I recommend delving deeper into the topic and analyzing the possibilities of its application for other countries.
Author Response
Response 1: This review paper has been developed based on the experiences gathered from other countries based on their electric vehicle market.
In addition, this article highlights the impacts and solutions to the impacts of large-scale electric vehicle application in most economies of the world. Please refer to Sections 3, 4 and 5 on how the EV market can be adopted and expanded in other countries.
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear authors,
the work is very interesting and well organized. Generally I have a good opinion because is able to provide a value added. I see some issues:
- your literature review is impossible that is not able to intercept reviews on this topic (https://doi.org/10.3390/en14082233, https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10161910, https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236876)
- your work must be able to identify the value added, what is the direction that this review aims to have?
- I suggest to explore the sustainability of this concept, there is no space for electric vehicles without a green production.
- at the same time you direction of future and relative policy must consider other aspects as the impact of environmental certification https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2101 and the economic growth https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.119887
- what are the main issues of this work? Please report in the last section
- what are the main differences among territories? can you compare them?
- can you provide a sustainable analysis on the results obtained (in a short way) on three dimensions?
Author Response
Responses:
Point 1: The recommendation provided in point 1 was implemented using the first two publications. This can be seen in line 387 and ref.47 and also in line 509 and ref.61.
Point 2: The value and direction added to this review article can be seen first as a summary in the abstract where is says …..the study accomplishes four objectives….
Point 3: Sections 4 and 5 provides and extensive concept and recommendations on sustainability and going green in the EV market.
Point 4: This article talks extensively on the impact of large-scale EV on the grid and increase in GHG emissions due to the continued reliance on fossil fuel power grid for EV charging. This can be seen explained extensively in the introductory Section 1.
Point 5: The main issue of this article is reflected in lines 5-7, 75-78, 496-498, 515-518.
Point 6: The main differences among the countries mentioned in the article is the approach employed by the government to support the adoption and sustainability of the EV market.
Point 7: Section 5 provides aa summary analysis on the sustainability of the EV market
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors provided comprehensive reviews and thorough discussions on issues related to sustainable electric vehicle transportation and concluded with policy propositions regarding the electric vehicle market in South Africa. The paper is well written however there are a few sentences that seem to convey different meanings than what the authors intended to, from a reader's standpoint. More details are provided below. The following is the list of observations and recommendations to enhance the paper.
- Given what the paper concluded on the EV market policy in South Africa, the authors should consider including such emphasis in the title as well. From what the existing title conveys, readers are looking forward to a paper with coverage of EV in general, not particularly to SA.
- Relating to the first point, if the conclusions are what the authors intended to give, there should be more introduction and discussion of existing conditions, plans, and policies in SA, otherwise, the conclusions came quite suddenly.
- line 26: "the largest economy in the world that consumes fossil fuel" seems better be "the two major economies in the world that consume the largest amount of fossil fuel."
- The colour scheme used in Figure 1 is hard to discern the differences between Europe, U.S. and Other regions. Unless the main purpose is to show the striking proportion of China, the authors should consider adopting a colour scheme such that the four regions can be distinguished clearly.
- Line 16, "Secondly, it provides it provides an ..." should be "Secondly, it provides an ..." In line 111, "this datasets" should be "this dataset", while these are among other similar errors that the authors should look into to perfect the writing.
- Line 332, "the South Africa Government in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the Department of Transport..." Given that these two departments are normally under the Government, it may be more logical to say that "the South Africa Government with the support of the Department of Energy and the Department of Transport..." The relationship is clearer.
Author Response
Responses:
Point 1: The article has been prepared to EV for most economy of the world
Point 2: The conclusion has been revised to reflect all economies
Point 3: The statement has been revised
Point 4: The colour scheme I believe is ok based on the reference which made it possible to provide the information
Point 5: Recommendation implemented and reflects now in Line 13 and Line 119
Point 6: This has been revised by removing the “South Africa Government……”
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
I recommend this paper for publication.
Author Response
Response 1:
Dear Reviewer,
I must acknowledge the depth of insights, comments, and recommendations you made towards the improvement of this manuscript in your reviews. I sincerely appreciate your efforts and commitments. The following are my responses in relation to your review
The applicability of the EV readiness plan for any country will be based on the following main criteria
- Government and stakeholders’ interests and buy-in for investments in EV and the electrification of the transportation sector
- Manufacturing capacity to develop EVs
- Accessibility to EVs charging infrastructure
- Renewable energy mix to support the EV market
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear authors, unfortunately I don't see a value added in the revised version. Sincerely all my points are not implemented. I understand that are not valuable for you. So can you explain me why all previous points are not relevant for you? Sincerely you spent two rows for each point and it is not simple to see the challenges in your manuscript.
Author Response
Responses:
Dear Reviewer,
I must acknowledge the depth of insights, comments, and recommendations you made towards the improvement of this manuscript in your reviews. I sincerely appreciate your efforts and commitments. The following are my responses in relation to your review.
Point 1:
Using the first publication https://doi.org/10.3390/en14082233; the significance that this literature provides is included as seen from line 384 to line 395, Ref. 47
The second publication https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10161910 can be seen as implemented from lines 514 to 518, Ref. 61
The third publication https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236876 can be seen added from lines 529-535, Ref.62
Point 2:
The value added to this review article can be seen first as a summary in the abstract section which talks to the significance the study accomplishes using four objectives …lines 13 to 23.
The direction provided by this study can be seen where it talks to
- the reproducibility of research in EV domain lines 390-395
- the portion which talks to policy recommendations as a direction lines 541-569
- in the conclusion section lines 522-540
Point 3:
Sections from 3.2, 4 and 5 provides and extensive concept and recommendations on sustainability and going green in the EV market.
Point 4:
Your observation on the impact on environment has been address with publication https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.119887. Ref 63
This article talks extensively on the impact of large-scale EV on the grid and increase in GHG emissions due to the continued reliance on fossil fuel power grid for EV charging. This can be seen explained extensively in the introductory Section 1.
Point 5:
- The main issue of this article is reflected in the abstract section.
- It can be ssen in section 2 lines 76-83
- It can be seen in section 4 lines 396-402
- It can also be seen in lines 522-529; 537-584
Point 6:
The main differences among the countries mentioned in the article is the approach employed by the government to support the adoption and sustainability of the EV market. And the current infrastructure which is available in any country. A country with infrastructure deficit will take more time to adopt EVs.
Point 7:
A summary of the sustainable analysis that can be obtained from this study are given as follows
- Government and stakeholders’ interests and buy-in for investments in EV and the electrification of the transportation sector
- Manufacturing capacity to develop EVs
- Accessibility to EVs charging infrastructure
- Renewable energy mix to support the EV market
Section 5 provides additional information on this sustainable analysis from lines 555-586
Round 3
Reviewer 2 Report
Congratulations.
