Version 1
: Received: 26 December 2023 / Approved: 26 December 2023 / Online: 27 December 2023 (01:47:42 CET)
How to cite:
Awla, S.H.; Philbin, S. Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses. Preprints2023, 2023121971. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1971.v1
Awla, S.H.; Philbin, S. Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses. Preprints 2023, 2023121971. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1971.v1
Awla, S.H.; Philbin, S. Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses. Preprints2023, 2023121971. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1971.v1
APA Style
Awla, S.H., & Philbin, S. (2023). Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1971.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Awla, S.H. and Simon Philbin. 2023 "Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1971.v1
Abstract
The urgency for a shift towards cleaner and more efficient energy alternatives for power generation is underscored by the escalating demand for energy and the detrimental environmental impacts of conventional fossil fuels. In the case of automotive power, electric vehicles are being adopted in many applications, however, challenges remain such as extended charging periods and limited ranges between charges. Therefore, this research study conducts a techno-economic analysis of renewable energy technologies (including solar modules, wind turbines and piezoelectric materials) to augment the efficiency and sustainability of electric buses. The study examines the scope for these technologies to be adopted on double-decker electric buses in London in the United Kingdom. The solar modules are placed on the rooftop and sides of the bus generating 15.9 kWh/day and the wind turbine in the front bumper of the bus generates 8.3 kWh/day. However, the piezoelectric material generated only 22.6 Wh/day, rendering it an impractical inclusion in further analysis. Therefore, both the solar modules and wind turbines combined generate 24.2 kWh/day, which can increase the driving range by 16.3 km per day and this results in savings of 19.36 minutes for charging at the stations. Investing in such projects would have a positive return as the internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) are 2.8% and £11,175 respectively. The annual revenue would be £6,712, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction would be two metric tons annually. Electricity exported to the grid, the electricity export rate, and the initial investment are identified as key factors influencing power outage in a sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, this numerical modelling study paves the way for experimental validation towards implementation of renewable energy technologies on electric bus fleets.
Keywords
Renewable Energy Technologies; Solar Modules; Wind Turbines; Piezoelectric Materials; Electric Buses; Energy Efficiency; Urban Public Transportation; Techno-Economic Analysis; Environmental Sustainability; Charging Infrastructure Reduction
Subject
Engineering, Energy and Fuel Technology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
