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Sustainable Development of Urban Electric Transport Systems

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 12184

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Transport Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: electric vehicles; renewable energy technologies; energy conversion; power converters; power systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Division of Regional Development, University of Gdańsk, Bażyńskiego 4, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: transformation of electric public transport operation; increase of electromobility (especially in public transport); development of battery drives; competition between trolleybuses and electric buses; evaluation of the development of urban electric transport; spatial analysis; smart cities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Division of Regional Development, University of Gdańsk, Bażyńskiego 4, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: human geography; local and regional development; maritime economy; transport geography; regional economic adaptability; sustainability transition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Transport is one of the most pollution-emitting sectors of the economy. The awareness of climate change caused by the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere has led to changes in transport, including urban transport. Due to its intensity in built-up areas, urban transport is important for everyday mobility, but due to its scale of operation, it also affects air quality and the environment in the city. Recently, there have been rapid technological developments in the area of electrically-powered vehicles, as well as on batteries that allow for longer distances to be covered and that have longer lifespans.

In this Special Issue, we propose to address the topic of the development of urban electric transport systems, including trams, trolleybuses, electric buses, and various individual transport vehicles. Addressing noticeable gaps in the scientific literature on the state of these urban transport systems and how they develop, and in particular comparative development studies in different cities and countries, will be a valuable contribution to science. In the context of the smart and sustainable city, studies should be undertaken to determine the best solutions for cities in the field of electrified transport development.

Dr. Mikołaj Bartłomiejczyk
Dr. Marcin Połom
Dr. Maciej Tarkowski
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Public transport
  • Electromobility
  • Tramway
  • Trolleybus
  • Electric bus
  • EV
  • E-scooter
  • E-bike

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 7571 KiB  
Article
Research into the Impacts of Driving Cycles and Load Weight on the Operation of a Light Commercial Electric Vehicle
by Tomáš Settey, Jozef Gnap, František Synák, Tomáš Skrúcaný and Marek Dočkalik
Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13872; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413872 - 15 Dec 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3710
Abstract
The European Parliament has adopted Directive 2019/1161 on the promotion of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient road transport vehicles, which also defines the obligations and forms of support for the procurement of environmentally friendly vehicles in urban logistics. The increase in the number of [...] Read more.
The European Parliament has adopted Directive 2019/1161 on the promotion of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient road transport vehicles, which also defines the obligations and forms of support for the procurement of environmentally friendly vehicles in urban logistics. The increase in the number of shipments delivered within e-commerce, which is also the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a transition to a sustainable logistics system. New research questions are being raised in the preparation of new projects for the introduction of small electric commercial vehicles in particular. One of the main research questions about deployment itself is whether light commercial electric vehicles are able to fully replace conventionally powered vehicles. What operating conditions are optimal for the operation of them? How does load weight affect the energy efficiency of operating a light commercial electric vehicle? The authors decided to carry out research into the impacts of weight and the nature of a driving cycle under laboratory conditions to eliminate all external factors that could distort individual measurements and their results. In order to simulate driving cycles, an urban driving cycle was designed on the basis of the course of speed, acceleration, deceleration and slope conditions of roads in the selected regional city of Žilina (Slovakia). In the case of the operation of an electrically powered light commercial vehicle, the impact of load weight on the range of the vehicle is low, and is below the level of the theoretical maximum range of the vehicle in urban logistics applications. The operation of electrically powered vehicles in hilly terrains with relatively longer gradients and steeper slopes increases electricity consumption and, thereby, reduces their range. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Urban Electric Transport Systems)
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13 pages, 1615 KiB  
Article
Connectivity Benefits of Small Zero-Emission Autonomous Ferries in Urban Mobility—Case of the Coastal City of Gdańsk (Poland)
by Maciej Tarkowski and Krystian Puzdrakiewicz
Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13183; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313183 - 28 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2353
Abstract
An increase in energy-efficient transportation is one way that cities try to mitigate climate change. In coastal cities, public water transit is also undergoing transitions. A small zero-emission autonomous ferry seems to be a cutting-edge technology in this field. This study aims to [...] Read more.
An increase in energy-efficient transportation is one way that cities try to mitigate climate change. In coastal cities, public water transit is also undergoing transitions. A small zero-emission autonomous ferry seems to be a cutting-edge technology in this field. This study aims to decrease the knowledge gap in research on the impacts of autonomous passenger ferry development on urban mobility. In particular, the central theme regards the extent to which the new transport solution can help improve sustainable mobility patterns. This study explores the local spatial context of ferry development, land-use patterns, and transport network structure, and moderates the shift in urban mobility practices. Regarding land use patterns, the case of the coastal city of Gdańsk has been documented in secondary qualitative and quantitative data, including in a large body of policy documents, accompanying expert opinions, and scholarly literature. This study strongly emphasises that a typical short river crossing, due to autonomous vessels, can regain a competitive position, which was partially lost due to linear routes along the river. The research identified crucial benefits of autonomous ferry shipping on urban mobility by increasing public transport network connectivity, reducing travel distance, and creating modal shifts towards foot travel and bike riding. It appears as an exciting scalable solution for cities where limited or dispersed demand prevents achievement of economies of scale, therefore diminishing the necessary expenditures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Urban Electric Transport Systems)
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22 pages, 4045 KiB  
Article
Implementing Electromobility in Public Transport in Poland in 1990–2020. A Review of Experiences and Evaluation of the Current Development Directions
by Marcin Połom and Paweł Wiśniewski
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 4009; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074009 - 3 Apr 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5079
Abstract
Public transport has undergone major changes in recent years. In particular, they relate to the issue of environmental impact. Due to the significant emission of pollutants from the economy, in particular from the transport segment, member states of the European Union have taken [...] Read more.
Public transport has undergone major changes in recent years. In particular, they relate to the issue of environmental impact. Due to the significant emission of pollutants from the economy, in particular from the transport segment, member states of the European Union have taken measures to limit its scope. Only low-emission and zero-emission vehicles are to be used in transport, and mainly those that are powered by electricity in public transport. The development of battery technologies has led to a revolution in the range and operational capabilities of electric buses in the last decade. They have become a seemingly easy alternative to traditional electric vehicles in public transport—trams and trolleybuses. This article presents the possibilities and limitations of the development of public transport in Poland based on electric buses. An attempt was made to review the literature and compare the possibility of the functioning of buses, trams and trolleybuses in the Polish socio-economic, environmental and technological conditions. The article was based on a literature query, an analysis of unpublished materials, and a qualitative analysis of national programs endorsing the idea of electromobility as well as an online survey on the perception of electric public transport. The main goal of the article was to identify and evaluate the possibilities of developing public transport in Poland with the use of electric buses. The main results of the work include the demonstration that the optics of the national and regional authorities in Poland are focused mainly on electric buses without a thorough analysis of the legitimacy of their operation, especially in small towns. The incentive in the form of subsidizing the purchase of an electric bus is sufficient for them, and the future effects of using electric buses are not investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Urban Electric Transport Systems)
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