مقاله انگلیسی رایگان در مورد وسایل نقلیه الکتریکی و نگرش صنعت 4.0 – تیلور و فرانسیس 2022

Abstract

1. Introduction

2. Literature review of battery modularity for electric vehicles

3. Approach to the concept of ‘replacing battery’ stations

4. Challenges of ‘battery replacement’ stations

5. Envisaged I4.0 solutions

6. Discussion

7. Conclusions and outlook

Acknowledgments

References

Abstract

     Energy and environmental impacts are at the top of the list of major global challenges to be addressed within the next few years. With transportation being one of the most pollutant sectors, focus has been directed towards Electric Vehicles, due to their significantly less dependency on fossil fuels. Nevertheless, electric mobility is currently characterized by a limited driving range, leading manufacturers to investigating new methods that could increase range and charging efficiency. Current research is mainly focused on increasing battery performance and reducing charging time. This study concentrates on presenting a novel approach, based on replacing battery stations, where the vehicle’s batteries are replaced with a fully charged one (available at the station), while new modular batteries could be made on the spot. The existing gas station networks could be used for the replacement of electric car batteries. This will be addressing the issue of time-consuming charging of batteries. Through the assimilation of Industry 4.0 Key Enabling Technologies, the respective challenges can be addressed. This is illustrated through a holistic framework, whereby the requirements for the context-aware design of the car itself are also given and a specific solution, based on the mechanical mounting of batteries is discussed..

Introduction

     Car manufacturers enter the space of the electric vehicle (EV) (Gnann et al. 2018; Nanaki 2021). This is highly correlated to the fact that the consumers find the green aspect very appealing (Rezvani, Jansson, and Bodin 2015). Reduction in the consumption of the emissions and the resources (Athanasopoulou, Bikas, and Stavropoulos 2018) are also in support of this trend. Moreover, the green agenda in Europe seems to have had a great impact on manufacturing in general (‘White Paper 2011 | Mobility and Transport’ 2021). Statistical figures show the correlation between market uptake and GDP, in the European Union (EU), with Germany, the United Kingdom and France having the highest EV market share in the EU for 2018, highlighting the importance of the EV market (‘Interactive Map – Correlation between Uptake of Electric Cars and GDP in the EU – ACEA – European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’ 2021; Hanžič, Marksel, and Božičnik 2019). Electric vehicles, in particular, seem to be having a very specific related issue, that of the battery. Some intelligence (Arora, Shen, and Kapoor 2016; Albright and Kappel 2003) has been embodied in the design of the car and the battery, but the issue of its charging still remains, despite the fact that the stakeholders’ number has now been increased drastically, by offering many differentiating choices.

Conclusions and outlook

     The investigation of I4.0 KETs, under the concept of battery modularity and the development of intermediate battery replacement stations, could have high potential on addressing significant barriers, related to the time-consuming battery charging. The particular study focuses on bringing together the modular batteries concept, which is still at a very early stage, with the new concept of intermediate battery replacement stations.

     From a product development perspective, modularization correlates with a radical change in the automotive industry. The modular battery pack design and distribution, under the concept of battery swapping stations, could lead to improved network capabilities and to manufacturing mobility. Modularity could be considered as a new milestone in the automotive industry, targeting at the optimization of global production networks and operational flexibility. Latest achievements in the field of complex assembly decision-making and the use of advanced technologies in design under the concept of I4.0, have rendered the necessary feasibility and adaptability possible, towards the implementation of modular concepts in the industrial sector (Remco, Halman, and Hofman 2016).