Search Results (425)

Decarbonizing heavy-duty road transport requires comparing zero-emission options to guide infrastructure investments along strategic corridors. This study develops a scenario-based techno-economic model to evaluate hydrogen fuel cell trucks (HFCTs) and battery electric trucks supported by dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) on a 100 km segment of Italy’s A4 motorway in 2030 and 2050 scenarios. The framework integrates traffic flows, vehicle archetypes, infrastructure sizing, and end-to-end energy chains (power-to-hydrogen-to-wheel for hydrogen and grid-to-wheel for WPT) to estimate capital and operating costs, efficiencies, and energy demand. Results show that hydrogen refueling infrastructure requires lower initial investment (approximately €60 million CAPEX and €20 million annual OPEX) than wireless charging systems (€80 million CAPEX and €15 million OPEX). However, WPT achieves significantly higher grid-to-wheel efficiency (96% vs. 62%) and lower per-vehicle energy demand (18 MWh/year vs. 25 MWh/year). These findings highlight a fundamental trade-off: hydrogen solutions offer operational flexibility and are better suited to long-haul or low-density contexts, while WPT systems are more efficient and become increasingly competitive in high-traffic corridors with high infrastructure utilization. Overall, the results suggest that no single technology universally dominates and that optimal deployment depends on traffic density, infrastructure usage, and system integration. A combined implementation of hydrogen and wireless charging technologies may provide the most effective pathway to balance efficiency, flexibility, and cost in future heavy-duty transport systems. Full article

The baseline assessment analysis for total cost of ownership of the pilot demonstrations of the ESCALATE project was carried out for four different powertrain configurations, dealing with modular and scalable powertrains for various vehicle configurations in long-haul trucking. The baseline TCO methodology and results for battery electric trucks (BETs), fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) and FC range-extending BETs are analysed based on the final designs of the demonstrator vehicles and their foreseen pilot use cases and operational scenarios. As real operation data is not yet available, the analysis relies on energy use and pilot mission analysis through simulation. Overall, the TCO analysis shows several key factors affecting the relative competitiveness of the different zero-emission powertrains and vehicles. Long-haul operations pose clear challenges to vehicle design and long-range vehicles on single charge or refill show increased curb weight, limiting allowable payload due to GVW limits. The best payload capacity is shown for opportunity charging BETs and FCETs. BETs are generally the closest competitor to conventional trucks, but a key factor is the relative energy price difference between diesel, electricity (private or public) and hydrogen. Energy sourcing will be an important factor for end users to enable competitive shift to zero-emission options. Access to cheap private electricity or local green hydrogen may facilitate a choice between the options. Full article

Against the backdrop of the global aviation industry’s commitment to achieving the “Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050” goal, the issue of superimposed peak loads on distribution networks—arising from the large-scale transition from fossil-fueled to electric Ground Service Equipment (GSE) at civil airports—has become increasingly prominent, emerging as a critical constraint on green airport development. Focusing on the high-value airside area, this paper presents the first systematic review of how Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology can transform electric Ground Service Equipment (e-GSE) from mere “charging loads” into “dispatchable energy storage resources.” The study proposes that, through bidirectional DC charging/discharging and intelligent aggregation technologies, e-GSE fleets operating on predictable schedules can be integrated as flexible regulation units within airport microgrids. To realize this pathway, the study comprehensively examines the core technological framework, encompassing wide-power-range bidirectional charging infrastructure, grid-forming power conversion topologies, standardized communication and grid interconnection interfaces, flight-schedule-based potential assessment and dispatch algorithms, and photovoltaic storage–charging hybrid system integration schemes. The review demonstrates that this technology can not only enhance grid resilience and promote renewable energy accommodation through peak shaving, valley filling, and ancillary services but also yields significant economic benefits. Finally, the study identifies the technical, standardization, and business model barriers hindering large-scale deployment, thereby providing a theoretical reference and a technology roadmap for the energy system planning and construction of future “zero-carbon smart airports”. Full article

This study examines Connecticut’s strategic approach to electric vehicle (EV) workforce development within the framework of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. Amid the U.S. goal to transition to a zero-emission vehicle fleet by 2050, this research investigates whether Connecticut’s current policies sufficiently address the need to reskill automotive mechanics into qualified EV technicians. Using a qualitative case study methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with state workforce representatives and analyzed through inductive coding within Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model. Findings reveal that while Connecticut aligns with federal NEVI goals for infrastructure, it lacks a dedicated budget and clearly defined pathways for technician training. Stakeholder collaboration remains fragmented, and efforts to empower workforce transformation are in the early stages. The study concludes that Connecticut risks falling behind unless it integrates a robust workforce development strategy that includes cross-sector partnerships, pilot training programs, and transparent certification pathways. These findings highlight the importance of aligning state-level EV infrastructure planning with human capital development and offer actionable insights for other states navigating similar transitions. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic and environmental evaluation of ten standalone solar-powered mobile charging station configurations for mini electric vehicles (MEVs) in Kuwait, simulated using HOMER Pro (v3.18.4). The configurations span DC–AC and pure DC-bus architectures, fixed and tracking photovoltaic (PV) systems, hybrid designs incorporating diesel generator backup, and fully renewable zero-emission systems. All configurations were evaluated under identical load demand (6460 kWh/year), solar resource, and economic assumptions derived from Kuwait’s desert climate at Al-Wafra farms (28°33′52.7″ N, 48°03′45.8″ E, annual average GHI = 5.49 kWh·m⁻²·day⁻¹). Performance was assessed using Net Present Cost (NPC), Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE), annual PV energy production, CO₂ emissions, Energy Production Density (EPD), Renewable Fraction (RF), and the PV Energy Production-to-Load Ratio (PV-EPTLR). The results demonstrate that two-axis tracking on a DC-bank architecture without a generator (System 8) achieves the highest annual PV output of 13,635 kWh/year, representing a 36% increase over a fixed-tilt DC-bank system while eliminating 100% of operational CO₂ emissions. Among the hybrid configurations, vertical single-axis tracking on a DC-bank architecture with generator backup (System 6) yields the lowest lifecycle cost (NPC = USD 6271.8; LCOE = 0.0751 USD/kWh), representing a 57% reduction relative to the fixed-tilt DC–AC baseline. EPD analysis confirms that tracking-based systems improve structural energy efficiency by up to 36%, making them particularly suitable for mobile and weight-constrained deployments. The findings provide actionable guidance for deploying sustainable off-grid MEV charging infrastructure in regions with limited grid access, offering a scalable pathway toward zero-emission rural transportation in solar-rich arid environments. The study further provides a systematic comparison between DC–AC and pure DC-bank charging architectures under identical operating conditions. Full article

To address transportation-related emissions, Taiwan’s 2022 net-zero strategy sets targets to increase the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). However, current policy frameworks insufficiently consider the technological diversity of low-emission alternatives, particularly hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). This study integrates a well-to-wheel life cycle assessment (LCA) with system dynamics modeling to evaluate and compare the environmental and health impacts of transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to BEVs and hydrogen FCEVs. The framework incorporates LCA-based carbon emissions and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) into a dynamic population simulation. Results show that, while DALY effects on life expectancy and population growth are limited, low-carbon vehicle adoption substantially reduces environmental burdens and helps moderate population decline. Projections to 2050 highlight significant emission-reduction potential, with hydrogen FCEV carbon emissions decreasing as renewable energy in hydrogen production increases. Adoption of green hydrogen could achieve a net-negative carbon balance for hydrogen FCEVs by 2049, positioning them as a sustainable long-term alternative to BEVs. Full article

There is an important debate about the appropriate policy measures for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector. Strong expansion of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) following a ban on the registration of new vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs) by 2035 is a prominent but controversial proposal. To evaluate achievable GHG emission reductions, it is essential to understand the temporal dynamics of such a fleet transition. This study provides a time-resolved, policy-oriented quantification of annual and cumulative lifecycle GHG emissions during this process. Therefore, it uses an annual simulation model to assess GHG emissions from vehicle production and use during the transition of Germany’s passenger car fleet between 2019 and 2060. The analysis compares an ICE registration ban by 2035 with alternative scenarios and evaluates the effects of electricity decarbonization, greener BEV production, and the supply of additional Zero Emission Fuels (ZEFs). This study reveals a substantial time lag of 10–20 years between changes in new vehicle registrations and effective emission reductions. Even with a complete ICE ban by 2035, annual GHG emissions decline by only 3.7% by 2030 relative to 2025, while cumulative emissions over this period fall by just 1.6%. Larger reductions occur later, reaching 39% in 2040, 77% in 2050, and 82% in 2060 compared with 2025; cumulative emissions until 2060 decrease by 45%. Without an ICE ban and with a 75% BEV share from 2035 onward, cumulative reductions fall to 34%. Introducing additional ZEFs equivalent to 10% of 2030 fuel demand increases this value to 41%, compensating for much of the lower BEV uptake. Full article

Despite the rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) installations over the past decade, challenges such as curtailments of renewable energy sources (RESs) and grid constraints continue to limit the capacity of Cyprus’ power system to accommodate higher solar penetration. In this context, grid reliability, defined as the ability to maintain stable operation by balancing supply and demand, minimizing curtailment, and reducing stress on the island network, has emerged as a critical concern. The deployment of PV-plus-storage systems offers a viable solution to enhance grid reliability while alleviating operational constraints. This paper presents a real-world case study of the first commercially deployed grid-connected PV-powered, battery-integrated electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Cyprus. Commissioned in May 2025, the system integrates a 60.32 kW_p rooftop PV array, a 100 kW/97 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS), and a 160 kW DC fast charger. A custom cloud-based energy management platform enables real-time monitoring, forecasting, and optimization under a zero-export scheme. High-resolution operational and weather data were collected between 15 May and 30 November 2025. Over this period, the integrated PV-battery system supplied 29% of the site’s total energy demand (self-sufficiency rate of 28.97%) and achieved a self-consumption rate of 98.69%. Such rates would not have been attainable with a pure PV system, given the depot’s evening-concentrated EV charging demand profile, which requires the BESS to time-shift daytime solar generation. The system reduced depot electricity costs by approximately 29%, generating €16,010 in savings and avoiding 26.47 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions compared to a grid-only baseline. Beyond site-level performance, the system contributed to grid stress reduction by absorbing excess PV generation that would otherwise have been curtailed/wasted. Operational insights indicate minimal temperature-related issues, highlight the importance of automated fault detection and alerting to minimize downtime, and demonstrate how periodic operation strategies can optimize system performance and mitigate curtailment in Cyprus’s isolated grid. Full article

The integration of large-scale electric vehicle (EV) fleets into vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems offers significant potential for enhancing the operation of renewable-based smart grids. However, stochastic uncertainties in photovoltaic (PV) generation, vehicle availability, and load demand—coupled with battery degradation and life-cycle assessment (LCA) carbon emissions—pose major challenges to optimal scheduling. This paper proposes a scenario-based multi-objective MILP framework for a 500-EV fleet aggregator. The model incorporates Monte Carlo simulations for multi-source uncertainty quantification (±25% PV forecast errors, ±40% availability), LCA penalties (45 kgCO₂eq/kWh), and ancillary service revenues (25 USD/MW-h). Long-term state-of-health (SOH) projections, including a 1-year fade to 96.5%, are also integrated. Comparative analysis of V2X scenarios shows that the V2G Hybrid strategy reduces daily costs by 34.6% (from ~11,000 USD in the uncontrolled case to 7741 USD when reserve revenues are included), achieves over 50% peak shaving, and maintains voltage stability within 0.994–1.008 pu. The stochastic Pareto frontier identifies knee-point solutions that lower normalized expected costs to 134.61 while achieving 1–2% lower expected emissions compared to deterministic baselines. These results demonstrate a comprehensive framework, uncertainty-aware framework that balances economic viability, grid resilience, and environmental sustainability, offering actionable insights for fleet aggregators and policymakers working toward net-zero energy systems. Full article

The transportation sector, a major source of urban air pollution and CO₂ emissions, is the focus of extensive research aimed at developing cleaner and more efficient technologies. In this context, hydrogen–methane blends (HCNG) represent a promising alternative fuel, combining the zero-carbon combustion potential of hydrogen with the availability and cleaner profile of methane. This solution can be implemented in existing internal combustion engines, enabling a technically and economically feasible transition toward more sustainable mobility. This work investigates the use of an HCNG blend in a bus originally powered by natural gas, focusing on pollutant emissions under real driving conditions representative of typical urban operation. Measurements were performed using a Portable Emission Measurement System installed on-board. Two test campaigns were carried out: the first using methane, and the second using an HCNG blend (15% H₂, 85% CH₄ by volume), over identical urban and extra-urban routes with varying drivers and traffic conditions. Results show a reduction in CO₂ emissions with HCNG, along with a more significant decrease in CO, HC, and PN emissions, while NOx exhibited a slight increase due to unchanged engine calibration. The analysis also includes the RPA index, which is related to fuel energy release characteristics, indicating improved vehicle responsiveness and torque delivery with HCNG. Full article

Decarbonizing heavy-duty road freight transportation requires efficient energy management in zero-emission powertrains. This study investigates energy management strategies (EMSs) for a heavy-duty Fuel Cell Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FC-PHEV). Rather than the typical charge-sustaining operation, these strategies are designed for charge-depleting operation, in which each route begins with a charged battery and ends at a lower state of charge (SOC), leveraging the vehicle’s plug-in capability. The EMSs are evaluated primarily in terms of energy consumption, while battery C-rate and fuel cell ramp rate are used as simple stress indicators for comparative analysis. A backward-facing vehicle model is developed to test several EMSs, including both optimization- and rule-based strategies. The Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy (ECMS) emerged as a promising option, motivating further testing with a forward-facing model and additional drive cycles. The simulation results show that ECMS consumed only 1.1% more energy than the global optimal solution found by Pontryagin’s Minimum Principle (PMP) and 7.5% less energy than a simple rule-based strategy, on average across five drive cycles. These results show that ECMS can be effective for a heavy-duty FC-PHEV operating in charge-depleting mode, extending its demonstrated applicability beyond charge-sustaining and light-duty vehicles. Full article

Electric vehicles are becoming more common daily because countries are moving towards net-zero emissions. Different generations of NMC battery cells are used for EV applications. This work investigates the degradation behavior of high-energy 75 Ah prismatic NMC631 lithium-ion cells using a combined incremental capacity analysis (ICA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) framework under different conditions. Cells are cycled at an identical C-rates and depths of discharge (DoD), and at different temperatures to systematically evaluate the impact of temperature on electrochemical aging. ICA results revealed that cells cycled at low temperatures maintain stable peaks and a high SoH (>90%) after completing 1600 full equivalent cycles (FECs). EIS analysis confirms the distinct impedance evolution patterns. Degradation mode analysis is performed using the ICA, and EIS highlights the combined evolution of conductivity loss, loss of lithium inventory, and loss of active material. It also highlights different degradation path trajectories under identical operating conditions stem from the progressive amplification of internal cell heterogeneities during aging. The results demonstrate that combining ICA and EIS provides complementary insights into degradation evolution and enables clear differentiation between gradual aging and sudden failure pathways in high-energy NMC cells. Full article

The European Union is currently focused on reducing non-exhaust emissions (NEE), a growing source of particulate matter (PM) pollution from road transport. This study presents the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of an innovative zero-emission magneto-rheological braking system specifically designed to meet new brake emission targets. Prototyped for A-segment passenger cars, the system uses magnetorheological fluids that modify their rheological properties when subjected to an external magnetic field. The environmental impacts of this innovative system are compared with those of a conventional disc brake, considering 16 environmental indicators across all life stages: raw material extraction, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life. In fact, although the system eliminates PM emissions during operation, it is crucial to assess whether it remains advantageous in terms of overall environmental impacts when the full life cycle is considered. As a prototype, this study also aims to inform design improvements that minimize environmental burdens. Results show that the innovative braking system performs better, particularly during the use and maintenance phases. Moreover, several eco-design strategies have been identified to reduce impacts related to materials and production. Overall, the magneto-rheological system demonstrates strong potential to meet future emission standards while improving the sustainability of vehicle braking technology. Full article

The electrification of urban and industrial transport is driving the need for propulsion architectures that combine energy efficiency, operational flexibility and regulatory compliance. However, current electric platforms often lack the adaptability required for customized body configurations and multistage manufacturing, and their approval is hindered by the complexity of meeting electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements at vehicle level. This article presents the conceptual design of a modular electric propulsion module developed within the MODULe project, in which the traction motor, inverter, battery pack, Battery Management System (BMS) and cooling circuits are integrated into a standardized module conceived as an Independent Technical Unit (ITU). The propulsion module dimensioned using a modified WLTP cycle, and the results indicate that the selected components can meet the dynamic demands of light and medium-duty vehicles, achieving an estimated consumption of around 50 kWh/100 km and a driving range above 160 km. By concentrating the critical regulatory requirements within a single module, the proposed architecture facilitates multistage vehicle approval, reduces development effort and supports the scalable electrification of commercial fleets. This approach may contribute to accelerating the deployment of zero-emission vehicles in urban logistics and industrial applications, with potential benefits for both the sector and society. Full article

The transition to net-zero energy systems requires operationally grounded decision-making frameworks that integrate technology performance, infrastructure readiness, and policy constraints at local scale. Food transportation represents a high-emission and operationally critical component of regional energy and supply chain systems, particularly in food-producing regions. This study proposes a preliminary Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) framework to support operational decision-making for the decarbonisation of food transportation, using Lincolnshire, UK, as a case study. The framework evaluates alternative freight transport technologies—battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs), battery electric road systems (BERS), and conventional internal combustion engine vehicles—across energy efficiency, CO₂ emissions, infrastructure requirements, and cost implications. Secondary data from national statistics, regional planning documents, and peer-reviewed literature are analysed using comparative quantitative and qualitative assessment methods. Results indicate that BEVs currently offer the most energy-efficient and cost-effective solution for short-haul and last-mile food logistics, achieving overall efficiencies of approximately 77–82% with zero tailpipe emissions. HFCEVs and BERS present potential long-term operational advantages for heavy-duty and long-haul freight, but remain constrained by high infrastructure investment, energy conversion losses, and system-level costs. The findings highlight the importance of phased technology adoption, renewable energy integration, and infrastructure prioritisation to enable sustainable energy operations in freight transport systems. By embedding technology comparison within a place-based planning framework, this study contributes actionable insights for local authorities, logistics operators, and policymakers seeking to support operational decision-making in sustainable energy systems. The proposed LAEP framework is transferable to other food-producing regions aiming to decarbonise freight transportation while maintaining operational efficiency. Full article