• Energy Research

A change in the logistics sector in terms of environmental sustainability is necessary to support the achievement of the social challenges associated with freight transport. Unfortunately, the policy responses to solving congestion and emissions issues are mainly dedicated to the movement of people. The most valued opportunities to reduce the negative effects of freight delivery (the goal of EU policy is CO2 free urban logistics by 2030) regards both the use of electric vehicles to perform the distribution and the introduction of distribution centres that encourage the use of light commercial vehicles. However, the combination of zero emission vehicles in logistic and transportation activities requires some additional challenges from the organizational and operational point of view. In order to avoid the delocalization of polluting emissions it is necessary that the production of electricity related to the new needs comes from renewable sources preferably distributed throughout the territory. This paper explores the integration of electric vehicles in logistics operations executed through light commercial vehicles, taking into consideration, during the design phase of a new concept delivery van, the technical connections with the production systems and its possible applications also in areas other than urban. The results of the case study presented encourage the development of a type of vehicle with features not yet covered by the market and which are of particular relevance for sustainable logistics applied to small towns or small islands, which are widespread in Italy.

Abstract Gradual electrification is widely considered as a feasible strategy for reducing the oil dependency and CO2 emissions of road transportation. In chase of these aims increasing importance has been attributed to Electric Vehicles (EVs). Although the European Commission has strongly supported sustainable mobility initiatives in recent years, with the purpose of decarbonizing road transport and mitigating urban air pollution, results are below expectations. Among the initiatives that can be implemented the most important is certainly the use of electric vehicles on a large scale but it will be necessary, in parallel, to plan an appropriate system of infrastructures that will be able to support the expansion. In this paper a methodology to provide optimal locations of electric vehicle infrastructures in a highway network is proposed. The procedure can also be used to support the implementation of the DAFI (Directive on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure). The goal is to estimate the basic number of charging stations and determine their correct allocation on the road network by analyzing the supply and demand and considering the psychological component of the driver. In Part 1, the subject of this research article, a model is presented to detect how many charging infrastructures are required within the service areas and to identify their location. After the description of the solution algorithm, a test application is performed in order to assess model and technique. With the aim of analysing a high-level system, the model will be used, in Part 2 of the work, to calculate and distribute the charging point on the Italian case study.

The development of Lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles have recently become the subject of large research efforts due to some remarkable advantages over other kinds of batteries, such as: high energy density, high power density, long cycle life and long calendar life. This paper is aimed to develop an ageing model suitable to estimate the battery lifetime, the residual capacity and reliability margins under different driving cycles, taking also into account the battery calendar ageing

Environmental climate change has encouraged countries across the world to develop policies aimed to the reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The introduction of Zero-Emission Vehicles based on electrical powertrains, could reduce the emission of environmental pollutants, the noise levels and could increase the liveability of urban areas. Although in recent years research on batteries has brought several benefits to electric vehicle performance, key barriers to their adoption are still high cost, reduced autonomy, long charging times and the leak of a suitable network of charging stations. Substantial improvements in electric vehicles performance are expected with the development of new Li-ion batteries, thanks to some notable advantages over other types of batteries, such as: high energy density, high power density, long cycle life and long calendar life. This paper is aimed to present a reliability assessment procedure based on an ageing model able to estimate from datasheet information the lifetime of Lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, the residual capacity and reliability margins under different driving cycles, taking also into account the battery calendar ageing.