Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact of Means of Transport with Conventional and Alternative Powertrains

Dear Colleagues,

The continuous growth of the global transport demand has led to a steady increase in energy consumption and pollutant emissions, significantly contributing to climate change and urban air quality deterioration. The decarbonisation of transport, one of the key pillars of global climate policy, requires the implementation of advanced propulsion systems, efficient energy management strategies, and a transition towards alternative energy carriers.

Modern transport systems rely on a wide range of propulsion technologies, from conventional internal combustion engines using fossil fuels to hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-based systems. Each of these technologies exhibits distinct characteristics in terms of energy efficiency, fuel consumption, and environmental impact. Comparative assessment of these systems, based on experimental data, modelling, and lifecycle analysis, is crucial to guide policy decisions and technological development towards sustainable mobility.

In conventional powertrains, continuous improvements in combustion control, exhaust aftertreatment, and friction reduction contribute to lower emissions and higher efficiency. However, their long-term sustainability is limited by the dependence on non-renewable resources and the formation of greenhouse gases such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O. In contrast, alternative powertrains, including hybrid systems, battery–electric vehicles, fuel cell systems, and engines powered by hydrogen or renewable fuels, offer substantial emission reductions but present new challenges related to energy storage, production pathways, infrastructure availability, and lifecycle environmental effects.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest scientific and technological developments in the field of energy consumption and environmental performance of transport means equipped with both conventional and alternative powertrains. This Special Issue welcomes the submission of research that addresses the full spectrum of transport categories, from road and rail to maritime and air, as well as interdisciplinary studies combining energy efficiency, emission control, sustainability assessment, and system optimisation.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Energy consumption assessment and optimisation of conventional and alternative powertrains;
• Lifecycle analysis (LCA) and carbon footprint of transport systems;
• Real-world emission measurements (RDE, PEMS) and environmental impact assessment;
• Integration of hydrogen, biofuels, and synthetic and e-fuels into combustion and hybrid systems;
• Efficiency and emission characteristics of fuel cell and battery–electric vehicles;
• Hybrid propulsion and energy recovery systems;
• Modelling, simulation, and control of energy flows in advanced propulsion systems;
• Environmental and safety aspects of hydrogen and alternative fuel infrastructure;
• Impact of fuels and propulsion technologies on air quality and greenhouse gas reduction;
• Regulatory frameworks, emission standards, and sustainable transport policies.

We invite researchers to submit original studies, reviews, experimental investigations, and numerical analyses that contribute to improving our understanding and advancement of energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable transport technologies.

Dr. Andrzej Ziółkowski
Dr. Michalina Kamińska
Dr. Maciej Siedlecki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.