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Digitalization and Automation in the Transportation: Pathways Toward Decarbonization, Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2026) | Viewed by 2404

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gojmir Radica

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, Rudjera Boškovića 32, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: testing; diagnostic; cogeneration systems; modelling; optimization; energy efficiency; marine engineering, and hybrid systems; conducting energy audits of buildings, including audits of heating and air conditioning installations in buildings, as well as renewable energy implementation and emission measurements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Željko Penga

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, Rudjera Boškovića 32, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: fuel cells; computational fluid dynamics; mathematical modeling; flow field design; dynamic models of fuel cells; continuum models; water and heat management; temporally and spatially resolved fuel cell performance monitoring; development of novel sensors and monitoring equipment for fuel cells; graded design of fuel cells; engineering thermodynamics; hydrogen energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transportation industry is rapidly transforming through digitalization and automation, enhancing energy efficiency, energy conservation, decarbonization and sustainability. This shift leverages sensor-driven data streams, IoT networks, and AI-enabled decision making to optimize vehicle performance, predictive maintenance, and real-time monitoring. A key innovation is the implementation of digital twins for engines—virtual models that replicate physical engines in real time. These digital replicas enable the comprehensive monitoring, simulation, and optimization of complex energy systems. By integrating sensor data with analytical models, digital twins provide operators with enhanced predictive capabilities, maintenance scheduling, and performance tuning. When integrated with hybrid energy systems that combine conventional and renewable power sources, they facilitate intelligent energy management. These technologies represent a significant improvement in the development of the transportation industry, offering the potential to improve energy efficiency and energy conservation, minimize emissions, and extend engine lifespan while maintaining operational reliability. The adoption of digital twins and hybrid energy systems reflects the industry's commitment to technological innovation, addressing both energy conservation and environmental challenges in transportation.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • The role of digitalization in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transportation;
  • Automation's impact on energy efficiency in freight and passenger transport;
  • Smart mobility solutions: integrating digitalization for energy conservation;
  • Digital twins as enablers of sustainable transportation systems;
  • Hybrid energy systems in transportation;
  • Decarbonizing freight transport through digital automation and optimization;
  • Energy management through connected vehicle technologies;
  • Digitalization in urban mobility: pathways to net-zero emissions;
  • The impact of AI-driven automation on energy efficiency in transportation networks;
  • Policy implications of digitalization for decarbonizing transportation systems;
  • Zero-emission vehicles, including fuel cell hybrid electrical vehicles;
  • Alternative fuels (e.g., hydrogen, ammonia) and electrification support decarbonization;
  • Real-time energy management and predictive optimization methodologies.

Prof. Dr. Gojmir Radica
Dr. Željko Penga
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.

Keywords

  • digitalization in transport
  • autonomous vehicles
  • decarbonization
  • alternative fuels
  • energy efficiency
  • energy conservation
  • energy management
  • real-time monitoring
  • energy management strategies
  • hybrid electric vehicles
  • fuel cell technologies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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22 pages, 1331 KB  
Article
Integrating Autonomous Trucks into Human-Centric Operations: A Path to Safer and More Energy-Efficient Road Transport
by Tomasz Neumann and Radosław Łukasik
Energies 2025, 18(16), 4219; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164219 - 8 Aug 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1728
Abstract
The increasing integration of autonomous driving technologies into heavy-duty road transport requires a clear understanding of how these systems affect professional drivers’ working time, vehicle utilization, and regulatory compliance. This study develops a model-based comparative analysis to assess the cooperation between human drivers [...] Read more.
The increasing integration of autonomous driving technologies into heavy-duty road transport requires a clear understanding of how these systems affect professional drivers’ working time, vehicle utilization, and regulatory compliance. This study develops a model-based comparative analysis to assess the cooperation between human drivers and autonomous trucks at SAE Levels 3 and 4. Using EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 as a legal framework, single-driver, double-driver, and ego vehicle scenarios were simulated to evaluate changes in working time classification and vehicle movement. The results indicate that Level 3 automation enables up to 13.25 h of daily vehicle movement while complying with working time regulations, compared with the 10-h limit for conventional operation. Level 4 automation further extends the effective movement time to 14.25 h in double-crew configurations, offering opportunities for increased efficiency without violating labor codes. The novelty of this work lies in the quantitative modeling of human–machine collaboration in professional transport under real regulatory constraints. These findings provide a foundation for regulatory updates, tachograph adaptation to AI-driven vehicles, and the design of hybrid driver roles. Future research will focus on validating these models in real-world transport operations and assessing the implications of Level 5 autonomy for logistics networks and labor markets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Automation in the Transportation: Pathways Toward Decarbonization, Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation)
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Review

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37 pages, 22908 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Biopolymer-Based Membranes for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
by Bruno Ševo, Anita Bašić, Nadav Amdursky and Željko Penga
Energies 2026, 19(10), 2426; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19102426 - 18 May 2026
Viewed by 198
Abstract
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are among the most promising clean energy conversion technologies, offering high efficiency and zero emissions. However, their large-scale commercialisation is limited by the high cost and environmental impact of conventional perfluorosulfonic acid membranes such as Nafion. In [...] Read more.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are among the most promising clean energy conversion technologies, offering high efficiency and zero emissions. However, their large-scale commercialisation is limited by the high cost and environmental impact of conventional perfluorosulfonic acid membranes such as Nafion. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward biopolymer-based membranes as sustainable, low-cost, and biodegradable alternatives. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the development and modification of biopolymer membranes, including polysaccharide-based materials such as chitosan, cellulose, gellan gum, sodium alginate, and starch, as well as protein-based materials such as keratin and collagen. Various modification strategies, including sulfonation, phosphorylation, cross-linking, and incorporation of inorganic or hybrid fillers, are analysed for their impact on key parameters, including proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and power density. Comparative data indicate that several modified biopolymer membranes achieve proton conductivities of 50 mS/cm or higher. However, higher conductivity values are generally reported for membranes primarily composed of synthetic polymers, where the biopolymer is incorporated only as an additive. In addition, some biopolymer-based membranes exhibit significantly lower methanol permeability than Nafion. The lowest reported value among the membranes discussed in this article is 0.98 × 10−16, representing the best-performing biopolymer membrane in terms of methanol permeability alone. Although many biopolymer membranes demonstrate relatively poor performance in single PEMFC tests, several have achieved power densities comparable to Nafion, while simultaneously offering improved environmental compatibility and sustainability. Finally, current challenges and future directions are discussed, emphasising the potential of these renewable materials to advance PEMFC technology toward more sustainable and economically viable energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Automation in the Transportation: Pathways Toward Decarbonization, Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation)
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