To achieve emission reduction targets and to improve local air quality of cities, the uptake of Electric Freight Vehicles (EFV) is essential. Knowledge concerning why companies do adopt EFV is lacking. Research about the diffusion of innovations and the market of EFV shows that frontrunner companies with an innovative or early adopting mindset are adopting (or willing to adopt) EFV. Increase in demand of EFV by such companies can help take a step forward towards mass production of EFV and eventually reduction in purchase cost of EFV. The main objective of this paper is to get insights into the decision-making attributes of frontrunner companies. A qualitative approach was used and 14 interviews were conducted among frontrunner companies delivering goods in the city of Amsterdam. Results show that innovators and early adopters are all motivated by socially or environmentally positive effects of EFV. Strategic motives played a role for all companies who already adopted EFV. All companies wanted to adopt EFV but technical limitations, due specialrequirements for the goods transported, are a reason to not adopt EFV. Getting insights into the preferences of frontrunner companies, the (local) authorities can adjust their policy, schemes and sustainability campaigns to attract more companies adopting EFV. Manufacturing companies can use the insights from this research to adapt their vehicle technology to answer needs of the potential customer for faster adoption rate.
The mass adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) might raise pressure on the power system, especially during peak hours. Therefore, there is a need for delayed charging. However, to optimize the charging system, the progression of charging from an empty battery until a full battery of the EVs based on realworld data needs to be analyzed. Many researchers currently view this charging profile as a static load and ignore the actual charging behavior during the charging session. This study investigates how different factors influence the charging profile of individual EVs based on real-world data of charging sessionsin the Netherlands, enabling optimization analysis of EV smart charging schemes.
This paper explores current and potential future use of fast charging stations for electric passenger vehicles. The aim of the paper is to analyse current charging patterns at fast charging stations and the role of fast charging among different charging options. These patterns are explored along the lines of the technical capabilities of the vehicles and it is found that with increasing battery capacity the need for fast charging decreases. However, for those vehicles with large charging capacities there are indications that fast charging is perceived as more convenient as these are used more often. Such results indicate a larger share for fast charging if charging capacities increase in the future. Results from a spatial analysis show that most fast charging is done at a considerable distance from home, suggesting mostly ‘on the road’ charging sessions. Some fast charging sessions are relatively close to home, especially for those without private home charging access. This shows some future potential for fast charging in cities with many on-street parking facilities.
Economic and environmental sustainability are the two main drivers behind today’s logistics innovation. On the one hand, Industry 4.0 technologies are leading towards self-organizing logistics by enabling autonomous vehicles, which can significantly make logistics transport efficient. Detailed impact analysis of autonomous vehicles in repetitive, short-distance inter-hub transport in logistics hubs like XL Business park is presently being investigated in KIEM project STEERS. On the other hand, the zero-emission technology (such as battery electric) can complement the autonomous logistics transport in making such a logistics hub climate-neutral. In such a scenario, an automatic vehicle charging environment (i.e., charging infrastructure and energy supply) for autonomous electric vehicles will play a crucial role in maximizing the overall operational efficiency and sustainability by reducing the average idle time of both vehicles and charging infrastructure. The project INGENIOUS explores an innovative idea for presenting a sustainable and environment-friendly solution for meeting the energy demand and supply for autonomous electric vehicles in a logistics hub. It will develop and propose an intelligent charging environment for operating autonomous electric vehicles in XL Business park by considering its real-life settings and operational demand. The project combines the knowledge of education and research institutes (Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen and The University of Twente), industry partners (HyET Solar Netherlands BV, Distribute, Bolk Container Transport and Combi Terminal Twente), and public institutes (XL Business Park, Port of Twente, Regio Twente and Industriepark Kleefse Waard). The project results will form a sound basis for developing a real-life demonstrator in the XL Business park in the subsequent RAAK Pro SAVED project. A detailed case study for Industriepark Kleefse Waard will also be carried out to showcase the broader applicability of the INGENIOUS concept.
Welke kennis over ‘het delen van LEV’s’ is nodig voor een waardevolle bijdrage aan de ontwikkeling van dit kennisdomein ten behoeve van de markt? Dit plan beschrijft de wijze waarop een kennisagenda rondom het delen van Light Electric Vehicles, ofwel LEV’s, wordt opgesteld. Uiteindelijk doel is een aanzet te maken voor het opzetten van een kenniscentrum voor het delen van LEV’s. Elektrische brommobielen, elektrische stepjes en voertuigjes voor elektrische stadsdistributie. Alle vallen ze onder de noemer Light Electric Vehicle, ofwel LEV. Vanwege hun compacte formaat, lichte bouw en duurzame aandrijving zijn ze zeer geschikt om problemen rondom uitstoot en bereikbaarheid op te lossen. Beperkte kennis over de beschikbaarheid, toepassingsmogelijkheden en regelgeving zorgt ervoor dat de toepassing van dit type voertuig achterblijft bij het potentieel. Een maatregel die veel wordt gehanteerd om duurzaamheid en bereikbaarheid te garanderen is deelmobiliteit. Het delen van voertuigen zorgt voor minder verkeersoverlast en zorgt ervoor dat mensen alternatieven kiezen voor hun eigen auto. Zeker in deze coronacrisis blijkt deelmobiliteit een aangenaam alternatief voor het openbaar vervoer. Deelvervoer wordt echter veelal verpakt in bestaande auto’s, terwijl deze daar niet per definitie geschikt voor zijn. LEV’s hebben de potentie om een goed alternatief te bieden voor bestaande deelauto’s, maar ook voor voertuigen die vanwege hun formaat, uitstoot of geluid niet passen in leefbare woongebieden. Op basis van een opgestelde kennisagenda verzamelt het Kenniscentrum voor LEV kennis en informatie over LEV’s en delen. Het helpt overheden, marktpartijen en gebruikers kennis te vergaren over LEV en het delen ervan. Zo geeft het Kenniscentrum inzicht in het ware potentieel van deze voertuigcategorie.
