scholarly journals The Subsidized Green Revolution: The Impact of Public Incentives on the Automotive Industry to Promote Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) in the Period from 2010 to 2018

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5765
Author(s):  
Patrick Reimers
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Alternative Fuel ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Alternative Fuel Vehicles ◽  
The Impact

Throughout decades, conflicts related to the access and usage of various energy sources have caused political tensions between nations and confederations of states. Thus, partially to decrease the dependence on fossil fuels, a thorough transition towards renewable energies has been promoted by several regional and national governments as well as by multinational institutions such as the European Union. In this context, the automotive industry has particularly been held responsible for the production of negative externalities, such as global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions), noise and air pollution. To a notable extent, these externalities were caused by vehicles running on fossil fuels such as petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel and fuel oil. Accordingly, it is often argued that replacing vehicles run by internal combustion engines (ICEs) with so-called alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), particularly with plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), is crucial to increase the sustainability of the transport sector. Moreover, several EU-member states aim to reduce the vehicle-related petrol and diesel demand to decrease their dependence on foreign energy sources. However, one must consider that there are important economic costs related to such a transition process. This paper evaluates the short-term and long-term effects of fiscal policies on the European automotive market in the period from 2010 to 2018, focusing on the impact of mentioned public incentives for AFVs. This public interventionism will be critically evaluated to examine the effectiveness of government incentives in promoting AFVs, particularly for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The author argues that the rather positive sales evolution of AFVs was not caused by corresponding actual customer demand but mainly by governmental policies in an increasingly interventionist market. He acknowledges that the growing variety of available PEV models, the increasing driving range of electric vehicles, as well as their decreasing production costs due to economies of scale, have helped PEVs to become more competitive. However, the concern should be raised that mentioned public interventionism is unsustainable from a macroeconomic perspective, possibly leading to significant market distortion and a new artificial market bubble. The narrowed focus on battery electric vehicles prevents the market from further elaborating on other potentially more sustainable technologies. Moreover, from a geostrategic perspective, the transition of the European automotive industry towards electrification is likely to reduce the EU’s dependency on imported fossil fuels but enables several non-European automotive brands to conquer a significant market with their new competitive plug-in electric vehicle technologies.

scholarly journals Air pollution health risk assessment: the role of benzene

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Lanza ◽  
E Carini ◽  
L Villani ◽  
W Ricciardi ◽  
U Moscato
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Polycyclic Hydrocarbon ◽  
Industrial Emissions ◽  
Benzene Exposure ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Benzene is an aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbon (C6H6) ubiquitously present in the environment which results from the emissions of fires and volcanoes. However, the primary source is anthropogenic, mainly from industrial emissions and combustion. The aim of this study is to summarize the current evidence on benzene exposure in the Italian regions and the main health effects. A retrospective observational study was conducted. Environmental data provided by ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) relating to benzene pollution and the trend of national emissions of substance by region and sector of origin were analyzed. Data available to date (1990-2016) show a significant decrease, over 91%, mainly due to the reduction in the transport sector. In 2016, the main share of substance relates to road transport (1,492 t), followed by use of solvents (1,100 t), and production processes (463 t). Much lower are the emissions due to the extraction and distribution of fossil fuels/geothermal (19 t) and combustion in the energy and transformation industries (5 t). The highest absolute values in 2015 were recorded in the Italian regions of Lombardia (751.4 t), Lazio (367.2 t), and Puglia (339.0 t). The lower values were in Valle d'Aosta (7.9 t), Molise (15,5 t) and Basilicata (25,3 t). The largest decrease in benzene exposure between 1990 and 2015 was recorded in Campania (-94.5%), Calabria (-93.9%) and Valle d'Aosta (-93.4%). All Italian regions recorded a significant decrease in the absolute values of benzene emissions, mainly due to both the decrease of benzene in fuel composition during the 1990s and to the renewal of circulating cars equipped with energy saving systems (start and stop) and more optimized for low fuel consumption. The global reduction of energy sources based on fossil fuels, as well as a primary environmental objective to reduce Global Warming, would certainly constitute a way to decrease the impact of benzene on the environment. Key messages Additional efforts are needed to reduce energy sources based on fossil fuels. An information, training and health education policy through the environment aimed at implementing awareness and empowerment of the population would be desirable.

scholarly journals Why we should invest further in the development of internal combustion engines for road applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luka Lešnik ◽  
Breda Kegl ◽  
Eloísa Torres-Jiménez ◽  
Fernando Cruz-Peragón
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Combustion Engines ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Battery Capacity

The majority of on-road vehicles today are powered by internal combustion engines, which are, in most cases, burning petroleum-derived liquid fuels mixed with bio-components. The power to weight ratio of internal combustion engines combined with the high energy content of conventional fuels, which can be refilled easily in matter of minutes, makes them ideal for all kinds of road transportation. Since the introduction of EURO emissions norms, the emissions from the Transport sector in the European Union have undergone significant reduction. There are several alternatives to fossil fuels with similar properties, which can replace their usage in the Transport sector. The main focus of research in recent decades has been on biofuels, which can be produced from several sources. The production of biofuels is usually energy more intensive than production of fossil fuels, but their usage can contribute to emission reduction in the Transport sector. In recent years, a lot of effort was also put into promotion of electric vehicles as zero emissions vehicles. This statement should be reconsidered, since the greenhouse impact of electrical vehicles is not negligible. Conversely, in some cases, an electrical vehicle can have an even higher emission impact than modern vehicles with sophisticated internal combustion engines. This is characteristic for countries where the majority of the electricity is produced in coal power plants. With the decrease of greenhouse gas emissions in the Electricity Production sector, and with the increase of battery capacity, the role of electric vehicles in the Transport sector will probably increase. Despite significant research and financial investments in electric vehicles development, the transport sector in near future will be mostly powered by internal combustion engines and petroleum-derived liquid fuels. The amount of pollution from transport sector will be further regulated with stricter emission norms combined with smaller amount of alternative fuel usage.

Total Cost of Ownership Analysis of the Impact of Vehicle Usage on the Economic Viability of Electric Vehicles in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (11) ◽  
pp. 563-572
Author(s):  
Parveen Kumar ◽  
Subrata Chakrabarty
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Total Cost Of Ownership ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Electric Cars ◽  
Cost Of Ownership ◽  
The Impact

The road transport sector in India is on the cusp of a transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from internal combustion engines (ICEs). Government of India (GoI) has announced several policy measures to push the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, EVs involve a high capital cost but lower operating costs. Therefore, the economics of EVs vis-à-vis ICE vehicles depends on the extent of their daily use. The daily use, in turn, can vary significantly from context to context. In this paper, a model to compare the total cost of ownership (TCO) of an EV with different fuel variants (petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas [CNG]) of their ICE counterparts is presented. It is found that, on an average, the TCO per km of electric two-wheelers (e-2Ws) and electric three-wheelers (e-3Ws) is less than their ICE counterparts at the typical average daily usage of the vehicles in Indian cities. In the case of hatchback and sedan cars, the TCO per km of electric cars (e-cars) is higher than their ICE counterparts. The TCO per km of electric bus (e-bus) is higher than diesel and CNG buses because of high initial purchase cost. Policymakers need to explore innovative business models and strategy for high vehicle utilization to improve the economic viability of EVs. Efficient planning of charging infrastructure and fast charging options will further help in accelerating the adoption of EVs in India.

scholarly journals Electric Vehicle and its Types

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (VII) ◽  
pp. 3553-3555
Author(s):  
P. M. Tripathi
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicle ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Hybrid Electric Vehicles ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Additional Energy ◽  
Charging Infrastructure ◽  
Hybrid Electric ◽  
The Impact

Electric vehicles are an important option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles not only reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but also reduce the impact of ozone-depleting substances and promote widespread adoption of renewable energies. Despite extensive research into the properties and characteristics of electric vehicles as well as the nature of their charging infrastructure, electric vehicle construction and grid modeling continue to evolve and become limited. regime. This paper presents market penetration surveys for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles, and describes optimal engineering and modeling approaches. their differences. Research on critical barriers and inadequate charging equipment targets developing countries like India, which makes the study unique. The development of the new Vehicle to Grid concept has created additional energy sources when renewable energy sources are not available. We conclude that considering the specific characteristics of an electric vehicle is important in the mobility of the electric vehicle.

scholarly journals ADOPTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohan Dolcy ◽  
Trevor Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Alternative Fuel ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Alternative Fuel Vehicles ◽  
Aggressive Approach ◽  
The Government

The transport sector has been identified as one of the highest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Trinidad and Tobago owing to the increase in the number of vehicles and the inherent traffic congestion. The vehicles are mainly fuelled by conventional fuels with relatively few being alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), primarily in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. This research explores the current situation with the development and adoption of AFV technology in Trinidad & Tobago. In Trinidad, the natural gas supply is already well-established, refuelling stations are in operation and up to 18 original equipment manufacturer CNG vehicles are available on the market, supplemented by the option of vehicle conversion. The opposite is true for electric vehicles, with only one recognized dealer offering electric vehicles and public charging stations, and only one related market incentive in effect. Despite the number of initiatives geared toward CNG development, the 2018 vehicle conversion targets have not been realized and it would require a very aggressive approach to achieve those figures by 2020. The authors have identified the key impediments to successful attainment of the targets. They note that few of the ongoing fiscal incentives, measures or pilot projects by the government ministries that are associated with renewable energies are directly linked to the transportation sector. Additionally, since measures of effectiveness for sustainability are not being monitored, the country cannot adequately determine its progress towards sustainability. The authors propose measures towards achieving sustainable development in transportation and to overcome the constraints of data availability, perceived barriers to AFV adoption and the notion of affordability over sustainability.

scholarly journals Investigation of the Impact of Large-Scale Integration of Electric Vehicles for a Swedish Distribution Network

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvester Johansson ◽  
Jonas Persson ◽  
Stavros Lazarou ◽  
Andreas Theocharis
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Smart Charging ◽  
Large Scale Integration ◽  
Scale Integration ◽  
The Impact

Social considerations for a sustainable future lead to market demands for electromobility. Hence, electrical power distribution operators are concerned about the real ongoing problem of the electrification of the transport sector. In this regard, the paper aims to investigate the large-scale integration of electric vehicles in a Swedish distribution network. To this end, the integration pattern is taken into consideration as appears in the literature for other countries and applies to the Swedish culture. Moreover, different charging power levels including smart charging techniques are examined for several percentages of electric vehicles penetration. Industrial simulation tools proven for their accuracy are used for the study. The results indicate that the grid can manage about 50% electric vehicles penetration at its current capacity. This percentage decreases when higher charging power levels apply, while the transformers appear overloaded in many cases. The investigation of alternatives to increase the grid’s capabilities reveal that smart techniques are comparable to the conventional re-dimension of the grid. At present, the increased integration of electric vehicles is manageable by implementing a combination of smart gird and upgrade investments in comparison to technically expensive alternatives based on grid digitalization and algorithms that need to be further confirmed for their reliability for power sharing and energy management.

The impact of age on Italian consumers' attitude toward alternative fuel vehicles

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 ◽  
pp. 299-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kostas Andriosopoulos ◽  
Simona Bigerna ◽  
Carlo Andrea Bollino ◽  
Silvia Micheli
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Fuel ◽  
Alternative Fuel Vehicles ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Examining the Role of Disruptive Innovation in Renewable Energy Businesses from a Cross National Perspective

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4447
Author(s):  
Hokey Min ◽  
Yohannes Haile
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Disruptive Innovation ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Sustainable Value ◽  
National Perspective ◽  
The Impact

With a growing demand for safe, clean, and affordable energy, countries across the world are now seeking to create and rapidly develop renewable energy (RE) businesses. The success of these businesses often hinges on their ability to translate RE into sustainable value for energy consumers and the multiple stakeholders in the energy industry. Such value includes low production costs due to an abundance of natural resources (e.g., wind, water, sunlight), and public health benefits from reduced environmental pollution. Despite the potential for value creation, many RE businesses have struggled to create affordable energy as abundant as that which is produced by traditional fossil fuels. The rationale being that traditional RE sources emanating from natural resources tend to rely on unpredictable weather conditions. Therefore, to help RE businesses deliver sustainable value, we should leverage disruptive innovation that is less dependent on natural resources. This paper is one of the first attempts to assess the impact of disruptive innovation on RE business performances based on the survey data obtained from multiple countries representing both emerging and developed economies.

The impact of fuel availability on demand for alternative-fuel vehicles

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Achtnicht ◽  
Georg Bühler ◽  
Claudia Hermeling
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Fuel ◽  
Alternative Fuel Vehicles ◽  
On Demand ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Emission estimates and air quality impacts from the use of alternative fuels by the Titan cement factory in Thessaloniki

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-224
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Alternative Fuel ◽  
Cement Industry ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Cement Factory ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Fuel Substitution ◽  
The Impact

Cement production is an energy-intensive process. Utilisation of fossil fuels is common practice in the cement industry around the world. Alternative fuel substitution rates increase every year. More specifically, 18 % of the fuel used by the European cement industry in 2006 consists of alternative fuels. This study aims to investigate the prospects for the partial replacement of conventional fossil fuels currently used in the TITAN cement factory in Thessaloniki, Greece, with alternative fuels, focusing on the impact of alternative fuel use on the emissions of air pollutants from co-incineration operations. Air emissions were estimated for both the conventional fuel and mixtures of conventional fuel with alternative fuels, based on emission factors found in the literature but also using the measurements conducted by TITAN in 2010. Emission estimates indicate that legislative limit values for all pollutants are not exceeded. Based on the emission estimates and measurements in the flue gas, the dispersion of the plume around the factory has been described with an appropriate numerical simulation model. Results suggest that the factory’s contribution to the air pollution levels in the surrounding area is very low for most regulated pollutants.

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