Alternative Fuel Vehicle Andd Powertran

In this study, the use of energy carriers based on renewable energy sources in battery-powered electric vehicles (BPEVs), fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) is compared regarding energy efficiency, emission and cost. There is the potential to double the primary energy compared with the current level by utilising vehicles with electric drivetrains. There is also major potential to increase the efficiency of conventional ICEVs. The energy and environmental cost of using a passenger car can be reduced by 50% solely by using improved ICEVs instead of ICEVs with current technical standard. All the studied vehicles with alternative powertrains (HEVs, FCEVs, and BPEVs) would have lower energy and environmental costs than the ICEV. The HEVs, FCEVs and BPEVs have, however, higher costs than the future methanol-fuelled ICEV, if the vehicle cost is added to the energy and environmental costs, even if significant cost reductions for key technologies such as fuel cells, batteries and fuel storages are assumed. The high-energy efficiency and low emissions of these vehicles cannot compensate for the high vehicle cost. The study indicates, however, that energy-efficiency improvements, combined with the use of renewable energy, would reduce the cost of CO 2 reduction by 40% compared with a strategy based on fuel substitution only. Ó

Planning the transition period for the adoption of alternative fuel-technology powertrains is a challenging task that requires sophisticated analysis tools. In this study, a system dynamic approach was applied to analyze the bi-directional interaction between the development of the refueling station network and vehicle sales. Besides, the developed model was used to estimate the transition cost to reach a predefined target (share of alternative fuel vehicles) in different scenarios. Several scenarios have been analyzed to investigate the effectiveness and cost of incentives on the initial price of vehicles, and on the evolution of fuel and refueling stations. Obtained results show that a combined set of incentives will be more effective than just a single specific type of incentives.

Hydrogen vehicles (H2V), including H2 internal combustion engine, fuel cell and fuel cell plug-in hybrid, could greatly reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector. The U.S. Department of Energy has adopted targets for vehicle component technologies to address key technical barriers to widespread commercialization of H2Vs. This study estimates the market acceptance of H2Vs and the resulting societal benefits and subsidy in 41 scenarios that reflect a wide range of progress in meeting these technical targets. Important results include: (1) H2Vs could reach 20-70% market shares by 2050, depending on progress in achieving the technical targets. With a basic hydrogen infrastructure (∼5% hydrogen availability), the H2V market share is estimated to be 2-8%. Fuel cell and hydrogen costs are the most important factors affecting the long-term market shares of H2Vs. (2) Meeting all technical targets on time could result in about an 80% cut in petroleum use and a 62% (or 72% with aggressive electricity decarbonization) reduction in GHG in 2050. (3) The required hydrogen infrastructure subsidy

In this study, we present a new formulation of the generalized flow-refueling location model that takes vehicle range and trips between origin-destination pairs into account. The new formulation, based on covering the arcs that comprise each path, is more computationally efficient than previous formulations or heuristics. Next, we use the new formulation to provide managerial insights for some key concerns of the industry, such as: whether infrastructure deployment should focus on locating clusters of facilities serving independent regions or connecting these regions by network of facilities; what is the impact of uncertainty in the origin-destination demand forecast; whether station locations will remain optimal as higher-range vehicles are introduced; and whether infrastructure developers should be willing to pay more for stations at higher-cost intersections. Experiments with real and random data sets are encouraging for the industry, as optimal locations tend to be robust under various conditions.

Planning the transition period for the adoption of alternative fuel-technology powertrains is a challenging task that requires sophisticated analysis tools. In this study, a system dynamic approach was applied to analyze the bi-directional interaction between the development of the refueling station network and vehicle sales. Besides, the developed model was used to estimate the transition cost to reach a predefined target (share of alternative fuel vehicles) in different scenarios. Several scenarios have been analyzed to investigate the effectiveness and cost of incentives on the initial price of vehicles, and on the evolution of fuel and refueling stations. Obtained results show that a combined set of incentives will be more effective than just a single specific type of incentives.

Abstract: The transport sector is facing serious challenges in meeting long-term sustainability criteria. Radical changes in the design of vehicles to attain competitive vehicles with substantially better environmental performance will probably constitute an important part in a future sustainable transport sector. The aim of the study described in this thesis is to assess the long-term options currently under discussion such as EVs, HEVs and FCEVs, and to analyse what role public policy has had in fostering their development. All ...

In this work an Electronic Control Unit for the management of a CFR engine will be described. The engine, which is used both for fuel octane rating (both in terms of RON and MON) and for research purpose, is equipped with a double injection system, with the aim to independently operate both with liquid and gaseous fuels. The developed ECU, hence, is able to control the injections of both kind of fuel, together with the spark ignition. Furthermore the system is also able to measure fuel's consumption, instantaneous engine speed of rotation and air-fuel ratio, showing all the running parameters both on a local LCD display and on a PC based graphical user interface.

Abstract: The transport sector is facing serious challenges in meeting long-term sustainability criteria. Radical changes in the design of vehicles to attain competitive vehicles with substantially better environmental performance will probably constitute an important part in a future sustainable transport sector. The aim of the study described in this thesis is to assess the long-term options currently under discussion such as EVs, HEVs and FCEVs, and to analyse what role public policy has had in fostering their development. All ...