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Hybrid Energy Systems for Electric Mobility Applications—Impacts on Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 5687

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Electrical Power Engineering Department, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
Interests: wind energy; renewable energy; solar energy; PV systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Electrical Power Engineering Department, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
Interests: power electronics and renewable energy systems

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Guest Editor
Electrical Power Engineering Department, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
Interests: renewable energy integration; power system operation and control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hybrid energy systems play a crucial role in advancing electric mobility applications by integrating different energy sources to optimize performance and efficiency. These systems typically combine renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, with conventional ones like fossil fuels, to power electric vehicles (EVs). This integration not only improves the range and reliability of EVs but also reduces their environmental impact. By harnessing the strengths of various energy sources, hybrid systems can overcome the limitations of solely relying on traditional or renewable energies.

The impact of hybrid energy systems on sustainable development is significant. As the global community strives to reduce carbon emissions and shift towards cleaner technologies, these systems present an effective solution for transitioning to sustainable energy use. By enabling a smoother shift to electric mobility, hybrid energy systems contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on non-renewable resources. This transition supports various sustainable development goals, including affordable and clean energy, climate action, and responsible consumption.

Nevertheless, despite their numerous advantages, hybrid energy systems present certain sustainability issues that need addressing. One major concern is the production and disposal of the batteries used in electric vehicles. The extraction of raw materials required for battery manufacture can lead to environmental degradation if not managed responsibly. Additionally, the end-of-life management and recycling of these batteries poses challenges for sustainability efforts.

In conclusion, while hybrid energy systems are instrumental in promoting electric mobility applications and advancing sustainable development objectives, it is essential to address the associated sustainability issues effectively. Proper management of resource extraction, waste management practices, and continuous innovation will ensure that the transition towards a more sustainable energy landscape does not compromise ecological integrity. Consequently, finding a balance between leveraging hybrid technologies and maintaining environmental considerations will pave the way toward a more resilient future in electric mobility.

We encourage researchers and colleagues to submit both their critical review papers and original, distinct works. The below are just a few examples of possible models and topics which can be submitted to this Special Issue:

  • Electric mobility;
  • Energy systems;
  • Energy conservation;
  • Energy-saving technologies;
  • Electric automobiles;
  • Pollution of the atmosphere;
  • Solar systems;
  • Wind systems;
  • Artificial intelligence applications in the energy system;
  • Urban wind energy and its aerodynamic effects.

Dr. Ayman Al-Quraan
Dr. Ahmed Koran
Dr. Ashraf Ghassab Radaideh
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • renewable energy
  • solar energy
  • wind energy systems
  • biomass and biofuels
  • geothermal energy
  • tidal power
  • wave energy
  • photosynthetic process
  • hydro-power

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 2925 KB  
Article
Energy-Efficient Hydraulics in Heavy Machinery: Technologies, Challenges, and Future Directions
by Mohit Bhola and Gyan Wrat
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010302 - 27 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2526
Abstract
Heavy earth-moving machinery is essential for construction, mining, and infrastructure development, but its traditional hydraulic systems, powered by diesel engines, are major contributors to energy losses and inefficiencies. Hydraulic circuits typically account for significant parasitic losses due to throttling, leakage, and low energy [...] Read more.
Heavy earth-moving machinery is essential for construction, mining, and infrastructure development, but its traditional hydraulic systems, powered by diesel engines, are major contributors to energy losses and inefficiencies. Hydraulic circuits typically account for significant parasitic losses due to throttling, leakage, and low energy recovery, resulting in high fuel consumption and emissions. Recent innovations are transforming hydraulic technology to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. This review highlights advancements such as electro-hydraulic actuators, independent metering systems, and digital hydraulics, which enable precise flow control and minimize throttling losses. The integration of energy recovery systems, including hydraulic accumulators and hybrid architectures, further enhances efficiency by capturing and reusing energy during braking and lowering operations. Additionally, the adoption of smart sensors, predictive analytics, and advanced control algorithms enables real-time optimization of hydraulic performance, reducing idle losses and improving overall system responsiveness. Emerging trends such as fluid power electrification, compact high-pressure components, and the use of eco-friendly hydraulic fluids are also discussed. By synthesizing current research and industrial practices, this paper provides insights into the challenges, opportunities, and future prospects for achieving substantial energy efficiency gains through next-generation hydraulic technologies in heavy earth-moving equipment. Full article
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24 pages, 1395 KB  
Article
A Qualitative Assessment of Metro Operators’ Internal Operations and Organisational Settings
by Patrick Bannon, Marin Marinov and Hing Yan Tong
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010020 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 682
Abstract
Envisaging future metro operations requires a collective and collaborative approach to understand an operator’s requirements. This study aims to gain an understanding of the current status of metro operators, as well as to identify areas of future innovation and further development. A special [...] Read more.
Envisaging future metro operations requires a collective and collaborative approach to understand an operator’s requirements. This study aims to gain an understanding of the current status of metro operators, as well as to identify areas of future innovation and further development. A special emphasis was given to the organisational settings—an underexplored aspect of metro operators in existing research—in addressing the following three designated areas of interest: predictive maintenance, cyber-security, and energy consumption. Therefore, to achieve an insight into metro operator’s internal operations, the study sought to engage in dialogue with operators. A literature review was first conducted to provide a foundation for analysis, and based on it, an online self-completed questionnaire survey was designed and administered to gain responses and insights from an extensive range of real-world metro operators. Follow-up face-to-face and group-wide discussions were also undertaken to obtain further detail and more specific information relating to metro operations. Through a three-dimension analysis framework, current practices, areas of consensus, and future innovative strategies of metro operators’ internal operations and organisational settings are highlighted. These insights collectively underscore the importance of adaptable strategies and cross-sector collaboration for advancing resilient, efficient, and secure metro systems. The outcome of the paper aspires to provide a strong foundation for future research as well as for future metro projects, providing an overview of the existing status of metro operators across the world. Full article
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22 pages, 3142 KB  
Article
Performance Improvement of a Standalone Hybrid Renewable Energy System Using a Bi-Level Predictive Optimization Technique
by Ayman Al-Quraan, Bashar Al-Mharat, Ahmed Koran and Ashraf Ghassab Radaideh
Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020725 - 17 Jan 2025
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1706
Abstract
A standalone hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) that combines different types of renewable energy sources and storages offers a sustainable energy solution by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, a standalone hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) [...] Read more.
A standalone hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) that combines different types of renewable energy sources and storages offers a sustainable energy solution by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, a standalone hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) involving wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) modules, diesel generators (DG), and battery banks is proposed. For this purpose, it is necessary to size and run the proposed system for feeding a residential load satisfactorily. For two typical winter and summer weeks, weather historical data, including irradiance, temperature, wind speed, and load profiles, are used as input data. The overall optimization framework is formulated as a bi-level mixed-integer nonlinear programming (BMINLP) problem. The upper-level part represents the sizing sub-problem that is solved based on economic and environmental multi-objectives. The lower-level part represents the energy management strategy (EMS) sub-problem. The EMS task utilizes the model predictive control (MPC) approach to achieve optimal technoeconomic operational performance. By the definition of BMINLP, the EMS sub-problem is defined within the constraints of the sizing sub-problem. The MATLAB R2023a environment is employed to execute and extract the results of the entire problem. The global optimization solver “ga” is utilized to implement the upper sub-problem while the “intlinprg” solver solves the lower sub-problem. The evaluation metrics used in this study are the operating, maintenance, and investment costs, storage unit degradation, and the number of CO2 emissions. Full article
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