Using GPS-data to determine optimum electric vehicle ranges: A Michigan case study

Fuel-switching personal transportation from gasoline to electricity offers many advantages, including lower noise, zero local air pollution, and petroleum-independence. But alleviations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are more nuanced, due to many factors, including the car’s battery range. We use GPS-based trip data to determine use type-specific, GHG-optimized ranges. The dataset comprises 412 cars and 384,869 individual trips in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. We use previously developed algorithms to determine driver types, such as using the car to commute or not. Calibrating an existing life cycle GHG model to a forecast, low-carbon grid for Ann Arbor, we find that the optimum range varies not only with the drive train architecture (plugin-hybrid versus battery-only) and charging technology (fast versus slow) but also with the driver type. Across the 108 scenarios we investigated, the range that yields lowest GHG varies from 65 km (55+ year old drivers, ultrafast charging, plugin-hybrid) to 158 km (16–34 year old drivers, overnight charging, battery-only). The optimum GHG reduction that electric cars offer – here conservatively measured versus gasoline-only hybrid cars – is fairly stable, between 29% (16–34 year old drivers, overnight charging, battery-only) and 46% (commuters, ultrafast charging, plugin-hybrid). The electrification of total distances is between 66% and 86%. However, if cars do not have the optimum range, these metrics drop substantially. We conclude that matching the range to drivers’ typical trip distances, charging technology, and drivetrain is a crucial pre-requisite for electric vehicles to achieve their highest potential to reduce GHG emissions in personal transportation.     

冻融作用下的沥青混合料力学特性

冻融损坏是冰冻地区沥青混合料的主要破坏形式。通过冻融循环作用下的沥青混合料单轴压缩和劈裂强度试验,分析了冻融循环次数、油石比等因素对沥青混合料力学特性的影响。试验得出,冻融循环次数和油石比对混合料的抗压和劈裂抗拉特性均有影响,油石比越小,影响越明显;在最佳油石比5.5%时,混合料的抗冻性能最好;冻融循环次数对沥青混合料力学特性的影响逐渐减弱,在10~12次冻融循环后,沥青混合料冻融后的强度和模量损失率均逐渐趋于稳定。     

水泥粉喷桩加固黄土软基的载荷试验研究

利用粉喷桩处理软土地基的方法已在我国广泛应用,但是对于处理黄土软土地基,规范中并无相关的计算参数。采用水泥粉喷桩法对甘肃尹中高速公路沿线黄土软基进行了地基处理,通过载荷试验发现水泥粉喷桩法加固黄土软基效果显著,且浸水对复合地基的承载力影响较小。     

公路黄土隧道洞口段施工技术要点

由于黄土隧道自身稳定性差,在开挖过程中,特别是刚进洞时的洞口（浅埋）段,容易出现不稳定的问题,所以需认清洞口段常见的灾害类型及成因,加强施工中各个环节的控制,以保证施工的正常、安全进行。     

关于湿陷性黄土路基处理方法的探讨

阐述了湿陷性黄土的定义、湿陷机理;并以闻合高速为例,介绍了常用湿陷性黄土处理方法,分析了各种方法各自的优缺点,并结合规范对湿陷性路基等处理要求,通过工程经济等综合比选,提出了各种方法的适用原则,以供交流、参考。     

某隧道黄土段塌方冒顶分析及处治

以某隧道黄土段塌方为例,分析了该隧道在黄土段施工时塌方的原因,介绍了工程处治措施,总结了黄土隧道施工、处治经验。对于黄土隧道的施工和塌方事故的预防、处治具有一定的参考意义。     

黄土地基的冲击压实研究

结合黄土的特性,选择预建高速公路的典型黄土,通过室内试验方法确定黄土的物理指标。通过黄土击实试验确定了该试样的最佳含水量为14.3%,与之相应的最大干密度为1.918 g/cm3。最后选择冲击式压路机在试压路段进行碾压,通过试验数据可知,在冲击压实达到40遍时,地面层20 cm的黄土的压实度能达到97.8%,黄土地基的总沉降量达到25.12 cm,且沉降趋于稳定。     

承赤高速围场支线湿陷性黄土物理力学性质研究

主要介绍承德至赤峰高速公路围场支线湿陷性黄土物理力学指标的统计特性,重点分析各项物性力学指标随深度的变化情况,并研究它们与深度的相关性,可为相关施工提供参考。     

Environmental impacts of public transport systems using real-time control method

Public Transport (PT) systems rely more and more on online information extracted from both operator’s intelligent equipment and user’s smartphone applications. This allows for a better fit between supply and demand of the multimodal PT system, especially through the use of PT real-time control actions/tactics. In doing so there is also an opportunity to consider environmental-related issues to approach energy saving and reduced pollution. This study investigates and analyses the benefits of using real-time PT operational tactics in reducing the undesirable environmental impacts. A tactic-based control (TBC) optimization model is used to minimize total passenger travel time and maximize direct transfers (without waiting). The model consists of a control policy built upon a combination of three tactics: holding, skip-stops, and boarding limit. The environmental-related measure is the global warming potential (GWP) using the life cycle assessment technique. The methodology developed is applied to a real life case study in Auckland, New Zealand. Results show that TBC could reduce the GWP by means of reduction of total passenger travel times and vehicle travel cycle time. That is, the TBC model results in a 5.6% reduction in total GWP per day compared with an existing no-tactic scenario. This study supports the use of real-time control actions to maintain a reliable PT service, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and subsequently moving towards greener PT systems.     

Electric vehicles for greenhouse gas reduction in China: A cost-effectiveness analysis

There have been ongoing debates over whether battery electric vehicles contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in China’s context, and if yes, whether the greenhouse gas emissions reduction compensates the cost increment. This study informs such debate by examining the life-cycle cost and greenhouse gas emissions of conventional vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles, and comparing their cost-effectiveness for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The results indicate that under a wide range of vehicle and driving configurations (range capacity, vehicle use intensity, etc.), battery electric vehicles contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional vehicles, although their current cost-effectiveness is not comparable with hybrid electric vehicles. Driven by grid mix optimization, power generation efficiency improvement, and battery cost reduction, the cost-effectiveness of battery electric vehicles is expected to improve significantly over the coming decade and surpass hybrid electric vehicles. However, considerable uncertainty exists due to the potential impacts from factors such as gasoline price. Based on the analysis, it is recommended that the deployment of battery electric vehicles should be prioritized in intensively-used fleets such as taxis to realize high cost-effectiveness. Technology improvements both in terms of power generation and vehicle electrification are essential in improving the cost-effectiveness of battery electric vehicles.