Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses
This research study addresses the challenges of extended charging times and limited ranges in electric vehicles by conducting a techno-economic analysis of integrating renewable energy technologies—solar modules, wind turbines, and piezoelectric materials—into double-decker electric buses in London,...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Clean Technologies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/6/4/79 |
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| author | Shwan Hussein Awla Simon P. Philbin |
| author_facet | Shwan Hussein Awla Simon P. Philbin |
| author_sort | Shwan Hussein Awla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research study addresses the challenges of extended charging times and limited ranges in electric vehicles by conducting a techno-economic analysis of integrating renewable energy technologies—solar modules, wind turbines, and piezoelectric materials—into double-decker electric buses in London, UK. Consequently, the empirical study evaluates the power output of renewable energy technologies through simulation modelling based on vehicle specifications and energy requirements, which is followed by numerical modelling to assess economic viability. Furthermore, CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modelling is undertaken to examine the performance levels of vehicular-mounted wind turbines. 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, thereby rendering this technology impractical for 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, resulting in savings of 19.36 min 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 £6712, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction would be two metric tons annually. Electricity generation, the electricity generation rate, and the initial investment are identified as key factors influencing power outages in a sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, this numerical modelling study paves the way for experimental validation toward the implementation of renewable energy technologies on electric bus fleets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-26c283c12cb74102962ac4bfc08142dd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2571-8797 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clean Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-26c283c12cb74102962ac4bfc08142dd2025-08-20T02:55:40ZengMDPI AGClean Technologies2571-87972024-12-01641625165210.3390/cleantechnol6040079Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric BusesShwan Hussein Awla0Simon P. Philbin1School of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA, UKSchool of Engineering, Kingston University London, London SW15 3DW, UKThis research study addresses the challenges of extended charging times and limited ranges in electric vehicles by conducting a techno-economic analysis of integrating renewable energy technologies—solar modules, wind turbines, and piezoelectric materials—into double-decker electric buses in London, UK. Consequently, the empirical study evaluates the power output of renewable energy technologies through simulation modelling based on vehicle specifications and energy requirements, which is followed by numerical modelling to assess economic viability. Furthermore, CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modelling is undertaken to examine the performance levels of vehicular-mounted wind turbines. 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, thereby rendering this technology impractical for 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, resulting in savings of 19.36 min 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 £6712, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction would be two metric tons annually. Electricity generation, the electricity generation rate, and the initial investment are identified as key factors influencing power outages in a sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, this numerical modelling study paves the way for experimental validation toward the implementation of renewable energy technologies on electric bus fleets.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/6/4/79renewable energy technologiessolar moduleswind turbinespiezoelectric materialstechno-economic analysiselectric buses |
| spellingShingle | Shwan Hussein Awla Simon P. Philbin Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses Clean Technologies renewable energy technologies solar modules wind turbines piezoelectric materials techno-economic analysis electric buses |
| title | Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses |
| title_full | Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses |
| title_fullStr | Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses |
| title_short | Harvesting Renewable Energy to Supply Power for Electric Buses |
| title_sort | harvesting renewable energy to supply power for electric buses |
| topic | renewable energy technologies solar modules wind turbines piezoelectric materials techno-economic analysis electric buses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/6/4/79 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shwanhusseinawla harvestingrenewableenergytosupplypowerforelectricbuses AT simonpphilbin harvestingrenewableenergytosupplypowerforelectricbuses |