Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility Vehicles
The characterization of electric vehicles as environmentally friendly means of transportation hinges, on the one hand, upon the manner in which the energy for their charging is generated and, on the other hand, on the recyclability of the materials composing them, with primary emphasis on the recycl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/632 |
| _version_ | 1797318781913006080 |
|---|---|
| author | Faidra Kotarela Nick Rigogiannis Eleni Glavinou Fotis Mpailis Anastasios Kyritsis Nick Papanikolaou |
| author_facet | Faidra Kotarela Nick Rigogiannis Eleni Glavinou Fotis Mpailis Anastasios Kyritsis Nick Papanikolaou |
| author_sort | Faidra Kotarela |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The characterization of electric vehicles as environmentally friendly means of transportation hinges, on the one hand, upon the manner in which the energy for their charging is generated and, on the other hand, on the recyclability of the materials composing them, with primary emphasis on the recycling of batteries. Given that we are still in the early stages of electrification in road transportation, it can be argued that at least a decade is required for the development of a sustainable battery recycling industry. Conversely, the progressively increasing number of electric vehicles makes the necessity of charging them with clean, green energy imperative. In this context, this study examines the energy and economic aspects of replacing 50% of the public passenger vehicle fleet, which currently relies on internal combustion engines, with electric vehicles on the island of Zakynthos, Greece. Specifically, it calculates the energy needs of these vehicles and proposes methods for environmentally friendly electricity generation to meet the electrical demand. To assess the benefits for the owners of the charging stations and the electric vehicles, the Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) method is employed for various scenarios regarding (a) the pricing of the supplied electrical energy for electric vehicle charging and (b) the evolution of fossil fuel prices. The study concludes by highlighting the environmental advantages of such an investment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:57:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e4291c158744b7eb783ae21338f3934 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:57:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e4291c158744b7eb783ae21338f39342024-02-09T15:11:21ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-01-0117363210.3390/en17030632Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility VehiclesFaidra Kotarela0Nick Rigogiannis1Eleni Glavinou2Fotis Mpailis3Anastasios Kyritsis4Nick Papanikolaou5Electrical Machines Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Kimmeria-Xanthi, 67132 Xanthi, GreeceElectrical Machines Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Kimmeria-Xanthi, 67132 Xanthi, GreeceEnvironmental Physics, Energy and Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Environment, Ionian University, Panagoula-Zakynthos, 29100 Zakynthos, GreeceEnvironmental Physics, Energy and Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Environment, Ionian University, Panagoula-Zakynthos, 29100 Zakynthos, GreeceEnvironmental Physics, Energy and Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Environment, Ionian University, Panagoula-Zakynthos, 29100 Zakynthos, GreeceElectrical Machines Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Kimmeria-Xanthi, 67132 Xanthi, GreeceThe characterization of electric vehicles as environmentally friendly means of transportation hinges, on the one hand, upon the manner in which the energy for their charging is generated and, on the other hand, on the recyclability of the materials composing them, with primary emphasis on the recycling of batteries. Given that we are still in the early stages of electrification in road transportation, it can be argued that at least a decade is required for the development of a sustainable battery recycling industry. Conversely, the progressively increasing number of electric vehicles makes the necessity of charging them with clean, green energy imperative. In this context, this study examines the energy and economic aspects of replacing 50% of the public passenger vehicle fleet, which currently relies on internal combustion engines, with electric vehicles on the island of Zakynthos, Greece. Specifically, it calculates the energy needs of these vehicles and proposes methods for environmentally friendly electricity generation to meet the electrical demand. To assess the benefits for the owners of the charging stations and the electric vehicles, the Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) method is employed for various scenarios regarding (a) the pricing of the supplied electrical energy for electric vehicle charging and (b) the evolution of fossil fuel prices. The study concludes by highlighting the environmental advantages of such an investment.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/632charging infrastructureelectric vehicle (EV)EV chargingLife-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)photovoltaic (PV) systemsRenewable Energy Sources (RES) |
| spellingShingle | Faidra Kotarela Nick Rigogiannis Eleni Glavinou Fotis Mpailis Anastasios Kyritsis Nick Papanikolaou Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility Vehicles Energies charging infrastructure electric vehicle (EV) EV charging Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) photovoltaic (PV) systems Renewable Energy Sources (RES) |
| title | Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility Vehicles |
| title_full | Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility Vehicles |
| title_fullStr | Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility Vehicles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility Vehicles |
| title_short | Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Photovoltaic-Based Fast-Charging Station for Public Utility Vehicles |
| title_sort | techno economic and environmental assessment of a photovoltaic based fast charging station for public utility vehicles |
| topic | charging infrastructure electric vehicle (EV) EV charging Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) photovoltaic (PV) systems Renewable Energy Sources (RES) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/632 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT faidrakotarela technoeconomicandenvironmentalassessmentofaphotovoltaicbasedfastchargingstationforpublicutilityvehicles AT nickrigogiannis technoeconomicandenvironmentalassessmentofaphotovoltaicbasedfastchargingstationforpublicutilityvehicles AT eleniglavinou technoeconomicandenvironmentalassessmentofaphotovoltaicbasedfastchargingstationforpublicutilityvehicles AT fotismpailis technoeconomicandenvironmentalassessmentofaphotovoltaicbasedfastchargingstationforpublicutilityvehicles AT anastasioskyritsis technoeconomicandenvironmentalassessmentofaphotovoltaicbasedfastchargingstationforpublicutilityvehicles AT nickpapanikolaou technoeconomicandenvironmentalassessmentofaphotovoltaicbasedfastchargingstationforpublicutilityvehicles |