A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport
Reduction in vehicle weight can significantly reduce energy use in human transportation. However, to gauge efficiency, energy use and weight for a particular vehicle should be related to the number of people being transported while currently there is no convenient means to assess this. Here we stati...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588840421000238 |
| _version_ | 1819007989768519680 |
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| author | Jing-Hua Zheng Jianguo Lin Julian M. Allwood Trevor Dean |
| author_facet | Jing-Hua Zheng Jianguo Lin Julian M. Allwood Trevor Dean |
| author_sort | Jing-Hua Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reduction in vehicle weight can significantly reduce energy use in human transportation. However, to gauge efficiency, energy use and weight for a particular vehicle should be related to the number of people being transported while currently there is no convenient means to assess this. Here we statistically analyse the weight, energy consumption, carrying capacity and occupancy level for automobiles, buses, high-speed trains and aircraft. Based on the analysis and inspired by the medical body mass index (BMI), we have proposed a vehicle mass index (VMI), defined as I=A(WtvWtp)n, for the first time enables energy efficiency assessment of different transportations on a global scale, where n a weight sensitivity parameter and A the energy efficiency constant of a theoretically weightless vehicle. We show the VMI ranges and conclude the significant vehicle weight reduction windows to achieve their index lower limits. The possible limits for the VMI and the associated A and n values are also assessed. The concept of VMI could form the basis of a worldwide standard, useful in the current drive for a greener economy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:33:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ec9e01dac61447c9d7741501d455a73 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2588-8404 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:33:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ec9e01dac61447c9d7741501d455a732022-12-21T19:21:50ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture2588-84042021-12-0144423433A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transportJing-Hua Zheng0Jianguo Lin1Julian M. Allwood2Trevor Dean3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Corresponding author.Engineering Department, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UKDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKReduction in vehicle weight can significantly reduce energy use in human transportation. However, to gauge efficiency, energy use and weight for a particular vehicle should be related to the number of people being transported while currently there is no convenient means to assess this. Here we statistically analyse the weight, energy consumption, carrying capacity and occupancy level for automobiles, buses, high-speed trains and aircraft. Based on the analysis and inspired by the medical body mass index (BMI), we have proposed a vehicle mass index (VMI), defined as I=A(WtvWtp)n, for the first time enables energy efficiency assessment of different transportations on a global scale, where n a weight sensitivity parameter and A the energy efficiency constant of a theoretically weightless vehicle. We show the VMI ranges and conclude the significant vehicle weight reduction windows to achieve their index lower limits. The possible limits for the VMI and the associated A and n values are also assessed. The concept of VMI could form the basis of a worldwide standard, useful in the current drive for a greener economy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588840421000238Vehicle mass indexEnergy efficiencyNormalized weightPassenger transport |
| spellingShingle | Jing-Hua Zheng Jianguo Lin Julian M. Allwood Trevor Dean A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture Vehicle mass index Energy efficiency Normalized weight Passenger transport |
| title | A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport |
| title_full | A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport |
| title_fullStr | A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport |
| title_full_unstemmed | A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport |
| title_short | A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport |
| title_sort | universal mass based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport |
| topic | Vehicle mass index Energy efficiency Normalized weight Passenger transport |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588840421000238 |
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