Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles Research Articles

Green Wheels, Greener Wallets: Economic Viability of Last-Mile Delivery Fleet Electrification in Case of Latvia

The analysis of internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) usage habits in the DPD Latvija company and the study of the specifics of its last-mile delivery transport business will allow to understand whether electromobility solutions can make the company more efficient. The question addressed in the research is whether the electrification of the delivery vehicle fleet can reduce transport expenses for the company and under what conditions. For estimation of direct and indirect costs of transport acquisition and usage Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is used. The company’s daily operation parameters and technical data of the used vehicles VW e-Crafter and VW Crafter 35 Kasten/long base are considered in the study. Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) calculation methods are used for analyzing the investment project. The expense of the creation of electrical vehicle charging infrastructure is not considered, because the company’s daily routine allows to cover all charging processes overnight by using domestic sockets together with Mode 2 chargers. All technical data and calculations were made for deliveries in a city cycle. In financial terms of owning delivery transport, the company is using a 5-year operational lease with 0% first payment. The obtained results in terms of TCO comparison showed a slight advantage by using EV after 5 years of last-mile delivery service per 1 vehicle – 706.98 Euro at 31200km a year or 100km in the working day of 6-day working week (156000km in 5-year is under 160000 warranty condition). The calculation is performed for DPD Latvija 213 ICE vans of a total 240-vehicle fleet. Results of NPV, NPVI, and IRR with a comparison rate of 10.6% for EV case clearly show a sufficiently good return. The Net Present Value of the solution is 89271.92 Euro and the Internal rate of return is 48.05%. The study proves that the electrification of the last-mile delivery company's fleet is economically justified and within 5 years. In the process of electrification, the company will reduce its expenses – by 1.45%, which increases the net annual profit by 0.13%. The main conclusion is that the company will not incur losses by switching to an environmentally friendly vehicle, the capital investment in a realistic scenario pays off already from the 3rd year. Nevertheless, the authors of the study recommend evaluating delivery vehicles with higher driving range parameters, because during peak delivery and seasons with cold weather, the company may experience unplanned downtime and expenses due to the need for additional charging time at public charging networks on the road, that could lead to financial losses and need for TCO calculation corrections.

Comprehensive Comparison of Traditional Engines and Emerging Alternatives

As the natural environment deteriorates, electric vehicles will gradually replace internal combustion engines that use traditional fossil fuels. This paper compares traditional engines to alternatives regarding efficiency, emissions, price, and market share. In brief, alternative engines have advantages over traditional internal combustion engines in terms of efficiency, emissions, and long-term overhead, as evidenced by rising market share. In 2022, the share of electric vehicles in global sales has reached 14%. Compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles have a higher well-to-wheel efficiency, up to more than twice of internal combustion engine vehicles. From a price perspective, electric vehicles have a higher original cost. However, lower maintenance costs allow electric vehicles to achieve the same cost as equivalent combustion engines in 5-8 years. Electric vehicles typically have low well-to-wheel and fuel emissions and are more sustainable. In the future, more research and development are needed for electric vehicles to make them suitable for most cities worldwide. At the same time, research into the traditional internal combustion engine should be addressed, as cleaner, more efficient engines such as the HCCI engines are already available for civilian use.

Numerical Study on Aerodynamic Noise Reduction in Passenger Car with Fender Shape Optimization

Despite the rapid development of vehicle intelligent technology, the aerodynamic noise problem of internal combustion engine vehicles and pure electric vehicles at high speed has always been a growing problem. In this study, the effects of the car body fender shape on the aerodynamic noises of the rearview mirror and wheel region were investigated, and a noise reduction method was also proposed by optimizing the fender shape. To realize the parametric modeling of the fender, five positional variables were selected to define the fender configuration; the free-form deformation (FFD) method was used to establish the response fender model according the DOE schemes, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are used to obtain the noise results. Then, with the help of the radial basis function (RBF) model and the adaptive simulated annealing (ASA) algorithm, the aerodynamic shape of the fender was optimized to reduce aerodynamic noise. Comparative analysis was then employed to assess flow field characteristics of the optimized model against the original model and elucidate the fender configuration’s contribution to aerodynamic noise reduction and its realization mechanism.

Electric vehicles as an emission mitigation option: expectations and reality

AbstractGlobally, the reliance on thermal power, constituting 67% of electricity generation, prompts questions for many countries regarding the viability of electric vehicles (EVs) for emission reduction in the transportation sector. This study comprehensively analyzes CO2 emissions in the small family car segment, considering engines powered by different energy sources. The analysis is coupled with Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure driving profiles, accounting for specific ambient temperature structures representative of densely populated areas in Türkiye. The constructed model incorporates the hourly temperature of the relevant cities and the hourly electricity production mix by considering the indirect emissions and comparing the ICEVs (Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles) and EVs in different time frames from 2015 to 2020. The resulting emissions from each vehicle type in each city and driving profile, along with the ratio of instances in which EVs exhibit higher emissions than ICEVs, are presented.The findings reveal the intricate interplay between vehicle type, climate conditions, and driving profiles. While the urban driving profile emerges as superior for EVs regarding CO2 reduction, offering a comfortable driving experience without range anxiety and mitigating local pollutants, it exhibits less significant carbon emission reductions at lower and higher speed profiles, particularly in cold climate conditions. EVs are not a silver bullet but a valuable technology for emissions reduction under specific conditions. Policymakers are urged to consider factors favoring EVs over ICEVs regarding CO2 emissions, such as driving profiles, time and climatic conditions when formulating investment policies and subsidies. Graphical abstract

Pedestrian safety on the road to net zero: cross-sectional study of collisions with electric and hybrid-electric cars in Great Britain

BackgroundPlans to phase out fossil fuel-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and to replace these with electric and hybrid-electric (E-HE) vehicles represent a historic step to reduce air pollution and...

Well‐to‐wheels analysis of greenhouse gas emissions for passenger vehicles in Middle East and North Africa

AbstractBattery electric vehicles (BEVs) are widely considered a pathway to achieve low carbon mobility. BEVs emit zero emissions from the tailpipe, but their life cycle carbon reduction compared to gasoline vehicles varies based on primary energy sources, electricity generation, and use efficiency. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is an area rich in fossil fuels, meriting a detailed comparison between the emissions from BEV and other powertrains. We developed a MENA‐specific life cycle model that estimates well‐to‐wheel (WTW) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from passenger transport with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug‐in hybrid electric vehicles, and BEVs. MENA's average WTW GHG emissions for all supply chain steps including combustion emissions from vehicle operation are 767 g/kWh and 84 g CO2eq/MJ for electricity and gasoline, respectively, but are highly variable due to heterogeneity in upstream supply chains. The use of hybrid gasoline ICEVs provides the largest emission reduction opportunity for existing vehicle fleets in 9 of the 16 MENA countries. For these nine countries, replacing gasoline ICEVs with HEVs could, on average, reduce country‐level life cycle GHG emissions by 47%. There is a similar emission reduction opportunity for 14 of the 16 MENA countries when normalizing vehicle efficiencies irrespective of the powertrain shares and other trends in existing vehicle fleets. Future scenario analysis shows that BEVs would have the lowest WTW GHG emissions among all powertrains in most MENA countries only if significantly reduced electricity transmission losses and cleaner grid mix are realized, although a high cost of infrastructure developments is expected.

Battery Electric Vehicles: Travel Characteristics of Early Adopters

Do U.S. households with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) drive less or more than U.S. households with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)? Answering this question is important to policymakers and transportation planners concerned with reducing vehicle miles traveled and the emissions of greenhouse gases from transportation. So far, this question has not been answered satisfactorily, possibly because of the relatively low number of EVs in the U.S. until recently, but also because of methodological issues. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by analyzing data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). We apply propensity score matching (PSM), a quasi-experimental method, to examine the differences in self-reported annual mileage and calculated daily mileage for various trip purposes among households with only BEVs (BEV-only), households with both BEVs and ICEVs (BEV+), and households without BEVs (non-BEV households). Our findings indicate that households with BEVs drive fewer annual miles than non-BEV households, but typically travel no less than they do for daily activities. This apparent discrepancy is likely due to taking fewer longer trips because the public charging infrastructure was still in its infancy in 2017, and its reliability was questionable. As technological progress is helping to overcome current battery limitations, policymakers may consider measures for fostering fast charging technologies while pondering new measures to fund both the charging infrastructure and the road network.

Study of an LLC Converter for Thermoelectric Waste Heat Recovery Integration in Shipboard Microgrids

Static waste heat recovery, by means of thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules, constitutes a fast-growing energy harvesting technology on the way towards greener transportation. Many commercial solutions are already available for small internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, whereas further development and cost reductions of TEG devices expand their applicability at higher-power transportation means (i.e., ships and aircrafts). In this light, the integration of waste heat recovery based on TEG modules in a shipboard distribution network is studied in this work. Several voltage step-up techniques are considered, whereas the most suitable ones are assessed via the LTspice simulation platform. The design procedure of the selected LLC resonant converter is presented and analyzed in detail. Furthermore, a flexible control strategy is proposed, capable of either output voltage regulation (constant voltage) or maximum power point tracking (MPPT), according to the application demands. Finally, both simulations and experiments (on a suitable laboratory testbench) are performed. The obtained measurements indicate the high efficiency that can be achieved with the LLC converter for a wide operating area as well as the functionality and adequate performance of the control scheme in both operating conditions.

Thermal management system for stable EV battery operation with composite phase change materials

Li-ion battery has been one of the cornerstone of the mobile era especially given the burst sales of Electrical vehicles (EV) which have eclipsed that of internal combustion engine vehicles over last decade. While extensive advances in smart production and technologies make it booming to the development of EV, there have been frequently reported fatal fire incidents originated from excessive thermal hazards of Li-ion batteries. In this paper, we developed a new Li-ion battery thermal management system, by making use of porous Aluminum structure as skeleton and Phase Change Materials (PCMs) as filler, to maintain its optimal operating temperature below 35 °C within a small tolerance range of ± 1 °C fluctuation by continuous heat absorption and heat release during the phase changes of the PCM. The thermal stress and energy consumption in the internal battery pack caused by temperature fluctuations can thus be reduced, ultimately sustaining the overall functional life span of the battery. We envision that our work will advance the operation of EV battery and incubate a versatile framework ranging from thermal management to battery assembly.

Predictive sustainability analysis applied to an automotive design case study.

The paper deals with a predictive sustainability analysis applied to the design of automotive components in lightweight perspective. The analysis is conducted through the integration of the traditional Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology with tailored forecasting algorithms able to provide a predictive evaluation of Climate Change (CC) by elaboration data contained in commercial environmental datasets. The comparison is referred to the entire Life Cycle (LC) of the system (including production, use and End-of-Life) according to a “from cradle to grave approach”.A medium-class car rear crash management system is used as case study, assessing the potential benefits related to the substitution of conventional steel with 6000/7000 series aluminium alloys, along with other minor design changes. Particularly, the study compares the environmental profile of the two solutions based on the CC impact category in application to both an Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV) and a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).The results show the potentiality of the proposed methodology, highlighting possible improvements/worsenings: new materials and manufacturing technologies adopted in the lightweight rear crash management system entail contrasting environmental effects depending on LC phases, that is, increased CO2eq in production (around 125% - mainly due to the strong energy intensity of aluminium supply chain) and reduced burdens in use and EoL (primarily provided by component mass reduction). That said, the influence of different boundary conditions on the predictive models is significant only for the electricity produced to energize the BEV configuration, leading to an overall variability of comparison results ranging within 3-30% for the BEV case study.

Detailed modelling and performance analysis of power flow topology in a hybrid electric vehicle having series-parallel architecture

Despite massive investment and carbon-neutral transition goals set around the world, gasoline-based internal combustion engine vehicles still form an absolute majority in the transportation sector. With the advent of technology, access to electricity, uncertainties in fuel prices and health awareness, people worldwide are moving towards a better, reliable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transportation, a hybrid electric vehicle. Such a vehicle, with its powerful electric motor and compact gasoline-based engine, offers better efficiency in terms of operating cost and reliability. Considering the advent of hybrid electric vehicles taking pace, studies related to its architecture types, power flow dynamics, control and modelling of its various components will form an essential part of the automobile industry and research. This paper proposes a power flow topology for a hybrid electric vehicle with series-parallel architecture. The developed vehicle model with such an architecture type consists of three main sub-systems: the electrical system, the control system and the mechanical system. The presented power flow topology being modelled and analysed in detail in the Simulink tool is being implemented via a mode logic controller, which forms part of the central control system. The developed hybrid electric vehicle model demonstrates various modes of operation, from starting to accelerating to de-accelerating and then finally coming to a complete rest. Each mode yields and explains the following: the vehicle reference speed; the engine and generator turn functions on/off; the dc bus and battery voltage; the motor, battery, and generator current; the motor, generator, and engine speed; engine torque; engine power; throttle demand; and the vehicle’s actual speed. The results thus obtained show that the waveforms associated with such topology, during its various modes of operation, are pretty stable and acceptable, thereby depicting and validating the operation of the developed hybrid electric vehicle model with proposed power flow topology in a precise and transparent manner.

Clean energy synergy with electric vehicles: Insights into carbon footprint

This study empirically examines the impact of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and clean energy adoption on carbon footprints. With growing concerns over climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to electric vehicles and clean energy sources has gained significant attention as potential solutions. This research investigates the relationship between the adoption of EVs and clean energy technologies and their subsequent effect on carbon footprints. The study applied the Generalised Method Moments (GMM) on the data sourced from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period 2011–2021 covering 27 countries. The findings reveal a strong correlation between the adoption of EVs and reductions in carbon footprints. It shows that a 1 % increase in renewable electricity output would result in a 0.5 % decline in carbon footprints. This implies that, as EV sales increase, the overall carbon emissions from the transportation sector decrease, primarily due to the lower emissions associated with electric vehicles compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Additionally, the study finds that the integration of clean energy sources into the electricity grid further contributes to carbon footprint reductions. The use of renewable energy in charging EVs minimizes the indirect emissions associated with electricity generation. The research concludes that the widespread adoption of EVs and clean energy sources has the potential to significantly reduce carbon footprints and mitigate the impact of climate change. However, it emphasizes the importance of continued technological advancements, increased availability of charging infrastructure, and supportive government policies to accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon transportation and energy system. Therefore, the study highlights the need for collaborative efforts among governments, industry stakeholders, and individuals to foster sustainable practices and achieve a more environmentally friendly future.

Review of Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicles

This paper presents an overview of the status and future prospects of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FC-EVs). As global concerns about emissions escalate, FC-EVs have emerged as a promising substitute for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. This paper discusses the fundamentals of fuel-cell technology considering the major types of fuel cells that have been researched and delves into the most suitable fuel cells for FC-EV applications, including comparisons with mainstream vehicle technologies. The present state of FC-EVs, ongoing research, and the challenges and opportunities that need to be accounted for are discussed. Furthermore, the comparison between promising proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies used in EVs provides valuable insights into their respective strengths and challenges. By synthesizing these aspects, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding and facilitate decision-making for future advancements in sustainable FC-EV transportation, thereby contributing to the realization of a cleaner, greener, and more environmentally friendly future.

Fire Risk Mitigation Strategies for Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Car Parks

As the use of eco-friendly vehicles, such as electric and hydrogen vehicles, is rapidly increasing, the related infrastructure is also expanding, and they have become common in parking areas. The fire safety design of a car park is based on the existing data of internal combustion engine vehicles; therefore, the characteristics of eco-friendly vehicles must be reflected. This study investigated the heat release rate of internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles, and hydrogen vehicles using real-scale fire test data and analyzed the effects of curb weight and battery capacity. The fire growth rate and maximum heat release rate of electric and hydrogen vehicles were similar to those of internal combustion engine vehicles, except for the batteries and hydrogen gas, which are the energy sources of electric and hydrogen vehicles, respectively. When ignited from the battery of an electric vehicle, the fire grew rapidly. When the thermally activated pressure relief device was activated in the storage vessel of a hydrogen vehicle, the heat release rate instantaneously increased to 14.5 MW. To improve fire safety in car parks, the curb weight and fire resistance structure must be designed to reflect the increase in plastic interior materials and battery capacity of vehicles, and firefighting facilities must be installed based on vehicles with greater fire severity.

Life Cycle Cost Assessment of Electric, Hybrid, and Conventional Vehicles in Bangladesh: A Comparative Analysis

The automobile industry is shifting from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) or electric vehicles (EVs) extremely fast. Our calculation regarding the most popular private car brand in Bangladesh, Toyota, shows that the life cycle cost (LCC) of a Toyota BZ3 (EV), USD 43,409, is more expensive than a Toyota Aqua (HEV) and Toyota Prius (HEV), but cheaper than a Toyota Axio (ICEV) and Toyota Allion (ICEV). It has been found that about a 25% reduction in the acquisition cost of a Toyota BZ3 would lower its LCC to below others. EVs can be a good choice for those who travel a lot. Changes in electricity prices have little effect upon the LCC of EVs. With the expected decline in the annual price for batteries, which is between 6 and 9%, and the improvement of their capacities, EVs will be more competitive with other vehicles by 2030 or even earlier. EVs will dominate the market since demand for alternative fuel-powered vehicles is growing due to their environmental and economic advantages.

Assessment of recent UK fire safety guidance for covered car parks and electric vehicles

Guidance issued by organisations such as fire and rescue services, insurers and governmental bodies across the UK for the fire safety design of covered car parks is changing in response to the projected rapid growth in electric vehicle (EV) use. This new guidance is impacting the provision of parking bays, particularly in residential and mixed-use buildings. This paper considers whether EVs in covered car parks pose a greater fire risk than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) using recent data on the ignition frequency and the burning characteristics of EVs. The recommended mitigating fire safety measures within the new guidance are assessed with a focus on detection, smoke ventilation, sprinkler systems and structural performance as these have the potential to have the greatest impact on a building fire safety design. The paper indicates that the recommendations may not align with available evidence which challenges a balanced approach to fire safety requirements to prevent over-specification that could affect the feasibility of building designs. This paper summarises recent fire safety guidance in the UK on the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in covered car parks. Factors that contribute to the risk posed by EVs are investigated and practical design values for heat release and fire growth are suggested. Key recommended fire safety measures proposed in the guidance have been assessed against existing evidence. The findings are useful to stakeholders involved in the design of covered car parks to allow a balanced approach to their fire safety requirements.

Systematic literature review of urban charging infrastructure planning over time

The transition from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles to Electric Vehicles (EVs) is imperative to achieve the goal of reducing transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 90 % in 2050. As urbanization intensifies, vehicle miles in urban environments increase and cities already consume 75 % of global energy, there is a pressing need for efficient charging infrastructure (CI) placement tailored to urban environments. Accordingly, this paper conducts a systematic literature review to outline prevailing research and derive requirements for a future CI model adaptable to urban environments. Analysis of N = 57 studies underscores the necessity for agent-based demand models to capture the intricate behaviors of EV drivers, which are currently underrepresented due to their data-heavy nature (n = 28 flow-based; n = 18 node-based). Furthermore, with a projected surge of 800 % in CI installations in Europe by 2030, strategic placement according to demand and urban-specific requirements is paramount. Still, multi-periodicity considerations are largely absent in current literature (n = 50). Geometric segmentation is presented as a solution to mitigate partial coverage issues. Ultimately, agent-based models, coupled with geometric segmentation, emerge as pivotal requirements for future CI models in urban environments, facilitating the transition to EVs, aligning with emission reduction targets, ensuring resource efficiency, and fostering urban sustainability.

A novel approach to modeling and experimenting a solar-fed H6 configuration for battery swapping stations in rural and commercial areas using a dual phase CLLC DC–DC resonant converter

In order to further the use of clean energy, the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) was initiated globally. In the coming days, there will be a need for more EV charging stations in rural and commercial areas. The installation of new charging infrastructure for different vehicles with different voltage specifications in order to charge batteries are expensive with limited availability. Also fast charging is not possible in rural areas. To overcome this issue, the battery swapping station is a good option. In this paper, a new solar-powered dual-phase CLLC DC–DC resonant converter is proposed to test battery swapping. An equivalent circuit has been derived analytically, and the optimal design of the magnetic components for the proposed converter has been derived. Simulation has been carried out for the proposed system. The proposed system was tested with a prototype set-up of a 100 W lithium-ion battery bank of equal and unequal voltage levels in an open-loop condition using Analog Discovery-2. Introducing the H6 concept in the proposed converter has the features of low stress across switches, use of higher dc grid voltage, low switching losses due to the dual phase resonant compensation network, and a multi-port isolated output system. Apart from battery swapping applications it can be utilized for Energy Storage Solution [ESS].

Long-Term Planning for a Mixed Urban Freight Fleet with EVs and ICEVs in the USA

Commercial electric vehicles (EVs) have increasingly gained interest from urban freight companies in the past decade due to the introduction of economic and policy drivers. Although these factors promote urban freight electrification, some barriers hinder the transition to fully electric fleets, such as the significant monetary investment required to replace the current internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) and the lack of readily available electric freight vehicles. Due to these barriers, for the foreseeable future, urban freight companies will operate mixed fleets with a combination of EVs and ICEVs to balance their cost/benefit trade-offs. This intermediate operational stage will allow companies to adjust their operations, test EVs, and decide if a fully electric fleet is the best choice. This paper focuses on urban last-mile deliveries in the USA and proposes a long-term planning model to explore the effects of external factors (i.e., fuel costs) on planning decisions (i.e., EV share) for a mixed fleet. In the context of this paper long-term planning is the planning for the infrastructure needed for the introduction of EVs (i.e., fleet composition and charging station location). The goal of the proposed model is to minimize the fuel, EV, ICEV, and EV charger costs. The results show that the EV share of a mixed fleet is affected by gasoline and electricity prices and the distances traveled in a given network. This paper shows that the EV share of a mixed fleet increases when the gasoline cost increases and the electricity cost decreases.

Blockchain based crowdsourcing framework for Vehicle-to-Vehicle charging

Electric Vehicles (EVs) have become a promising solution to entirely replace traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. EV owners face the “Range Anxiety” problem which is the fear that their remaining charge would not be enough to reach their destination. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging is currently being used in exchanging energy between EVs. Most of the existing energy V2V frameworks depend on a centralized server that manages the energy exchange. However, these solutions may suffer from privacy leakage and misbehaving platforms. To overcome these limitations, the paper proposes a blockchain-based crowdsourcing framework for V2V charging. The framework features include registering users, maintaining user information, clustering requesters (charging tasks), collecting preferences lists from requesters and providers, and lastly selecting the requester-provider charging pair as well as the corresponding meeting point. These features are implemented using three types of smart contracts: User Management Contract, Task Management Contract, and Solution Management Contract while guaranteeing the transparency of the system and overcoming the main limitations of the centralized solutions. Experiment results with real-life dataset show that the proposed framework achieves a comparable performance at reasonable paid costs and execution times.