A Comparative Study of Initial Cost Recuperation Period of Plug-In Series Hybrid Electric Two-Wheel Vehicles in Southeast Asian Countries

Woongchul Choi,Seokho Yun

doi:10.3390/su122410340

Abstract

While pollutant emissions from vehicles are under heavy scrutiny all around the world, small two-wheelers have not been under strict regulations until recently. Especially in the region of Southeast Asia, a tremendous number of old, in-house rebuilt and outdated two-wheelers are in operation and, as a result, pollutant emission problems are one of the most serious concerns of the communities. Since electric grid systems for consistent and stable supply of electricity are not there yet, thus plug-in series hybrid two-wheel vehicles have attracted much attention and are thought to be a meaningful solution for many people in the region. In the current study, an energy simulation tool has been developed to compare the ownership cost of an internal combustion engine (ICE)-based two-wheeler and that of a plug-in series hybrid electric scooter. To estimate annual energy cost (sum of gasoline and electricity cost), gasoline prices and household electricity rates in major Southeast Asian countries were collected. In addition, the nominal initial vehicle prices of ICE-based scooters and those of plug-in series hybrid electric two-wheel vehicles were gathered to estimate the time for the recovery of the initial investment.

Highlights

As a part of ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of pollutant emissions and CO2 production from internal combustion engine (ICE)-based conventional vehicles, more detailed and stricter regulations are being imposed [1]
Thailand In Thailand, the rationale for using more electric energy than gasoline seems strong and reasonable based on the cost structure
As a first effort to provide a rationale for the use of CO2− and pollutant emission-free energy, adoption of a higher dependency on electrically powered vehicles is recommended with a recuperation period of 1.2 years

Summary

Introduction

As a part of ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of pollutant emissions and CO2 production from ICE-based conventional vehicles, more detailed and stricter regulations are being imposed [1]. In many Southeast Asian countries, one of the most popular transportation methods is two-wheelers [5] Among those countries, Indonesia has the highest number of two-wheel vehicles registered, as high as about one two-wheel vehicle per two people [6]. The real problem with these countries is the fact that most ICE-based conventional vehicles are loosely controlled in terms of emission regulation [8]. The air pollution caused by driving two-wheel vehicles is intensifying, because of the huge number of two-wheelers, and due to the failure of effective regulation control [9,10,11]. Rather simple and straightforward energy consumption models were developed, one for an ICE-based two-wheel vehicle and the other for a plug-in series hybrid electric two-wheel vehicle. The results from the study are detailed in this paper

Objectives

Results

Conclusion