The transition from diesel-driven urban freight transport towards more electric urban freight transport turns out to be challenging in practice. A major concern for transport operators is how to find a reliable charging strategy for a larger electric vehicle fleet that provides flexibility based on different daily mission profiles within that fleet, while also minimizing costs. This contribution assesses the trade-off between a large battery pack and opportunity charging with regard to costs and operational constraints. Based on a case study with 39 electric freight vehicles that have been used by a parcel delivery company and a courier company in daily operations for over a year, various scenarios have been analyzed by means of a TCO analysis. Although a large battery allows for more flexibility in planning, opportunity charging can provide a feasible alternative, especially in the case of varying mission profiles. Additional personnel costs during opportunity charging can be avoided as much as possible by a well-integrated charging strategy, which can be realized by a reservation system that minimizes the risk of occupied charging stations and a dense network of charging stations.
MULTIFILE
There is a lot of attention for the reduction of city logistics’ emissions. But also if city logistics’ vehicles are zero emission, the vehicles remain present in urban areas. Zero emission vehicles also occupy valuable urban space during unloading on the road and on sidewalks. Despite the spatial impact of city logistics, it is rarely considered in spatial planning. Based on four case studies, we explore possibilities to actively integrate city logistics in spatial planning policies and practices in order to reduce nuisance, but also to enhance efficiency of deliveries. In the end, spatial planning determines the physical urban conditions in which city logistics operations are taking place for many years. From the results we distil a research agenda to bridge the gap between city logistics as a traffic issue and its integration in spatial planning policies.
MULTIFILE
To reach the European Green Deal by 2050, the target for the road transport sector is set at 30% less CO2 emissions by 2030. Given the fact that heavy-duty commercial vehicles throughout Europe are driven nowadays almost exclusively on fossil fuels it is obvious that transition towards reduced emission targets needs to happen seamlessly by hybridization of the existing fleet, with a continuously increasing share of Zero Emission vehicle units. At present, trailing units such as semitrailers do not possess any form of powertrain, being a missed opportunity. By introduction of electrically driven axles into these units the fuel consumption as well as amount of emissions may be reduced substantially while part of the propulsion forces is being supplied on emission-free basis. Furthermore, the electrification of trailing units enables partial recuperation of kinetic energy while braking. Nevertheless, a number of challenges still exist preventing swift integration of these vehicles to daily operation. One of the dominating ones is the intelligent control of the e-axle so it delivers right amount of propulsion/braking power at the right time without receiving detailed information from the towing vehicle (such as e.g. driver control, engine speed, engine torque, or brake pressure, …etc.). This is required mainly to ensure interoperability of e-Trailers in the fleets, which is a must in the logistics nowadays. Therefore the main mission of CHANGE is to generate a chain of knowledge in developing and implementing data driven AI-based applications enabling SMEs of the Dutch trailer industry to contribute to seamless energetic transition towards zero emission road freight transport. In specific, CHANGE will employ e-Trailers (trailers with electrically driven axle(s) enabling energy recuperation) connected to conventional hauling units as well as trailers for high volume and extreme payload as focal platforms (demonstrators) for deployment of these applications.
In the road transportation sector, CO2 emission target is set to reduce by at least 45% by 2030 as per the European Green Deal. Heavy Duty Vehicles contribute almost quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in Europe and drive majorly on fossil fuels. New emission restrictions creates a need for transition towards reduced emission targets. Also, increasing number of emission free zones within Europe, give rise to the need of hybridization within the truck and trailer community. Currently, in majority of the cases the trailer units do not possess any kind of drivetrain to support the truck. Trailers carry high loads, such that while accelerating, high power is needed. On the other hand, while braking the kinetic energy is lost, which otherwise could be recaptured. Thus, having a trailer with electric powertrain can support the truck during traction and can charge the battery during braking, helping in reducing the emissions and fuel consumption. Using the King-pin, the amount of support required by trailer can be determined, making it an independent trailer, thus requiring no modification on the truck. Given the heavy-duty environment in which the King-pin operates, the measurement design around it should be robust, compact and measure forces within certain accuracy level. Moreover, modification done to the King-pin is not apricated. These are also the challenges faced by V-Tron, a leading company in the field of services in mobility domain. The goal of this project is to design a smart King-pin, which is robust, compact and provides force component measurement within certain accuracy, to the independent e-trailer, without taking input from truck, and investigate the energy management system of the independent e-trailer to explore the charging options. As a result, this can help reduce the emissions and fuel consumption.
To meet the European Green Deal, new CO2 emission standards for Heavy-Duty-Vehicles (HDV) have been set. The amended Regulation EU-2019/1242 has a wider scope, covering not only lorries but also trailers. From 2030 on (semi-)trailers must reduce their emissions by 10%, even though trailers generally do not emit any CO2-emissions. But how can a trailer save CO2? To calculate emissions, the European Commission has developed VECTO, the Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation TOol. It is a standardized framework designed to determine fuel consumption and CO2-emissions of HDVs. Analysis show that the two main focus points for CO2 reduction, based on VECTO, are weight reduction and improved aerodynamics. However, equipping trailers with aerodynamic devices or making them lighter isn’t straightforward. Trailers lead a rough life and the industry is adapted to the current trailer designs. Lightweight constructions might harm the lifetime of a trailer and trailers with protruding aerodynamic parts won’t fit on a train anymore. Besides, both solutions have a major influence on the vehicle (roll-over) stability and therefore safety. It is not that evident for a trailer manufacturer to design a (new) trailer that 1) fulfills the CO2 regulations, 2) complies with the constructional requirements and 3) remains safe and stable. This 3-step-approach is really missing for trailer manufacturers, and this is endorsed by Burgers Carrosserie: “How can we validate (upfront) that the trailer is still as “strong” and “safe” if we apply the weight reduction that shows sufficient CO2 saving in VECTO?”. The answer was simple, it isn’t. It is the aim of Trenergy to develop this 3-step approach with complementary simulation tools, where trailer manufacturers can validate their design(s) for CO2 Savings, Construction and Safety. It is intended to make the developed models/tools open source for the Logistic Industry.
