Abstract:Conventional transportation systems are facing many challenges related to reducing fuel consumption, noise, and pollutants to satisfy rising environmental and economic criteria. These requirements have prompted many researchers and manufacturers in the transportation sector to look for cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable alternatives. Powertrains based on fuel cell systems could partially or completely replace their conventional counterparts used in all modes of transport, starting from small ones, s… Show more
“…In the 21st century, with the rise in fuel prices and rising greenhouse gas emissions, FCEVs are gaining traction. A number of companies, like Toyota, Honda, BMW, General Motors and Hyundai, etc., are working on developing efficient fuel cell-based electric vehicles [105].…”
Climate change necessitates urgent action to decarbonize the transport sector. Sustainable vehicles represent crucial alternatives to traditional combustion engines. This study comprehensively compares four prominent sustainable vehicle technologies: biofuel-powered vehicles (BPVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and solar vehicles. We examine each technology’s history, development, classification, key components, and operational principles. Furthermore, we assess their sustainability through technical factors, environmental impacts, cost considerations, and policy dimensions. Moreover, the discussion section addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with each technology and assesses their social impact, including public perception and adoption. Each technology offers promise for sustainable transportation but faces unique challenges. Policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers must collaborate to address these challenges and accelerate the transition toward a decarbonized transport future. Potential future research areas are identified to guide advancements in sustainable vehicle technologies.
“…In the 21st century, with the rise in fuel prices and rising greenhouse gas emissions, FCEVs are gaining traction. A number of companies, like Toyota, Honda, BMW, General Motors and Hyundai, etc., are working on developing efficient fuel cell-based electric vehicles [105].…”
Climate change necessitates urgent action to decarbonize the transport sector. Sustainable vehicles represent crucial alternatives to traditional combustion engines. This study comprehensively compares four prominent sustainable vehicle technologies: biofuel-powered vehicles (BPVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and solar vehicles. We examine each technology’s history, development, classification, key components, and operational principles. Furthermore, we assess their sustainability through technical factors, environmental impacts, cost considerations, and policy dimensions. Moreover, the discussion section addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with each technology and assesses their social impact, including public perception and adoption. Each technology offers promise for sustainable transportation but faces unique challenges. Policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers must collaborate to address these challenges and accelerate the transition toward a decarbonized transport future. Potential future research areas are identified to guide advancements in sustainable vehicle technologies.
“…This pursuit could involve enhancing the efficacy of electric power generation and consumption, as suggested in [7], or by embracing alternative energy sources for various applications, including space heating and cooling. Examples of such aternative energy resources implemented to achieve sustianable invironment include fuel cell technology [8], solar energy [9], wind energy, and geothermal energy [10,11]. Darwish [12] investigated the use of commercially available phosphoric acid fuel cells for space cooling in high-rise apartment buildings in Kuwait.…”
Kuwait stands as one of the hottest locations globally, experiencing scorching temperatures that can soar to 50 °C during the summer months. Conversely, in the winter months of December and January, temperatures may plummet to less than 10 °C. Maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors necessitates a substantial amount of energy, particularly during the scorching summer seasons. In Kuwait, most of the electrical energy required for functions such as air conditioning and lighting is derived from fossil fuel resources, contributing to escalating air pollution and global warming. To reduce dependence on conventional energy sources for heating and cooling, this article presents a case study to explore the potential of using geothermal energy for space heating and cooling in Kuwait. The case study involves utilizing a geothermal heat pump (water-sourced heat pump) in conjunction with a vertical-borehole ground heat exchanger (VBGHE). The mentioned system is deployed to regulate the climate in a six-floor apartment block comprising a small two-bedroom apartment on each level, each with a total floor area of 57 m2. Two geothermal heat pumps, each with a cooling capacity of 2.58 kW and a heating capacity of 2.90 kW, connected to two vertical-borehole heat exchangers, were deployed for each apartment to maintain temperatures at 22 °C in summer and 26 °C in winter. The findings indicate that the estimated annual energy loads for cooling and heating for the apartment block are 42,758 kWh and 113 kWh, respectively. The corresponding electrical energy consumption amounted to 9294 kWh for space cooling and 113 kWh for space heating. The observed peak cooling load was approximately 9300 kJ/h (2.58 kW) per apartment, resulting in a power density of 45 W/m2. Moreover, the HP system achieved a 22% reduction in annual electric energy consumption compared to conventional air conditioning systems. This reduction in electric energy usage led to an annual CO2 reduction of 6.6 kg/m2.
“…Fuel cells use hydrogen as a source of energy to produce the necessary electricity for propulsion. By managing energy delivery and storage using hydrogen, this dual-energy strategy lessens the burden on the battery, thus reducing the rate at which they degrade over time while reducing the total operational costs [3][4][5].…”
Modernizing public transportation is crucial, given the ongoing call for sustainable mobility. Growing concerns about climate change and the increasingly stringent emissions standards have compelled public transport operators to embrace alternative propulsion vehicles on a broader scale. For the past years, the Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) have been the vehicle of choice for public transportation. However, an emerging contender in this sector is the Fuel Cell Electric Bus (FCEB). This paper aims to evaluate the way one such vehicle would perform in terms of energy efficiency while being exploited in an urban scenario generated from collected data.
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