Two-wheeler vehicles are the most significant mode of transportation for Kenyans in both rural and urban regions thereby contributing to local air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The transition to electric two-wheeler vehicles can make a significant contribution to reducing GHG and improving the socio-economic lives of people living in rural Kenya. Re-newable energy systems can considerably contribute to the charging of electric two-wheeled vehicles, thus leading to the reduction of carbon emissions and the expansion of renewable energy penetration in rural Kenya. Therefore, this paper focuses on integrating and modelling electric two-wheeled vehicles (e-bikes) into an off-grid photovoltaic Water-Energy Hub located in the Lake Victoria Region of Western Kenya using the Conventional and Renewable Energy Opti-mization (CARNOT) Toolbox in MATLAB / Simulink. Electricity demand data obtained from the Water-Energy Hub was investigated and analysed. Potential solar energy surplus was identified and electric two-wheeler vehicles were integrated based on the surplus. A field measurement investigation on the energy consumption of the electric two-wheeler vehicles based on the rider’s driving behaviour was also carried. The annual electricity demand of 27,267 kWh, photovoltaic (PV) electricity production of 37,785 kWh with an electricity deficit of 370 kWh were obtained from the simulation results. To reduce the electricity deficit, a load optimisation algorithm was de-veloped to optimally integrate the electric 2-wheeler vehicle into the Water-Energy Hub. It was found that using the load optimisation algorithm, the annual electricity deficit was reduced to 1 kWh and the annual electricity demand was increased by 11% (30,767 kWh) which is enough to charge 4 additional electric two-wheeler batteries daily.

Following electrification of automotive transport, studies on the penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) are widespread, especially in defined contexts, e.g. cities. As major transport hubs, airports fall within contexts worth of interest. In this work, a forecast of the demand for electric mobility in an Italian international airport (Rome, Fiumicino) is presented. First, a wide review of proposed sce-narios on the penetration of EVs at international and national level and available data on local automotive transport are presented, as preliminary study for the definition of reference scenarios for the local context. Then the methodology proposed is presented and applied to the specific case study. Finally, a preliminary sizing of the required charging infrastructure is reported. The proposed approach can be considered as reference for similar studies on electrical mobility in other airport areas around the world.

Nowadays brushless DC motors (BLDCMs) are becoming indispensable components as the electrification revolution in the mobility industry is happening. Electric kick scooters, so-called e-scooters, are among these micro-mobility vehicles which are powered by these motors. Due to the uncertain and nonlinear features, the controller performance developed for these motors degrades. For these reasons, a chattering-reduced cascaded Sliding Mode Control (SMC) scheme to effectively track reference motor speed in the outer loop by eliminating torque ripples in the inner loop current control was designed. Field-oriented Control (FOC) methodology was used to implement the SMC in the BLDCM. An exponential reaching law algorithm was proposed for sliding surfaces of the inner and outer loop controllers. The suitability and performance of electric scooter-hub motors were analyzed in terms of traction control. A cascaded speed and torque controller produced significantly favorable results representing minimized torque and current ripples, and operation over a wide speed range.

A block-diagonal fuzzy neural network for short-term load forecasting is proposed. DBD-FELF consists of fuzzy rules with consequent parts that are neural networks with internal recurrence. These networks have a hidden layer which consists of pairs of neurons with feedback connections between them. The overall fuzzy model partitions the input space in partially overlapping fuzzy regions, where the recurrent neural networks of the respective rules operate. The partition of the input space and determination of the fuzzy rule base is performed by use of Fuzzy C-Means clustering algorithm and the RENNCOM constrained optimization method is applied for consequent parameter tuning. The electric load time-series of the Greek power system is examined, and hourly-based forecasting for the whole year is performed. The performance of DBD-FELF is tested via extensive experimental analysis and the results are promising, since an average percentage error of 1.18% is attained, along with an average yearly absolute error of 76.2 MW. Moreover, DBD-FELF is compared with Deep Learning, fuzzy and neurofuzzy rivals, such that its particular attributes are highlighted.

A modular approach to the construction of electric machines, drive systems, power supply systems is a new direction of modern technology development. Especially, the modular approach is promising for electric vehicles due to such positive aspects as increased efficiency, fault tolerance, overall reliability, safety, enhanced control capabilities, etc. In this work, the modular approach is comprehensively applied to an EV powertrain system, which includes a dual three-phase (DTP) BLDC motor with two machine modules of an asymmetric configuration, two battery modules and a supercapacitor module (SCM). The proposed H–H configuration of modular EV powertrain system includes four voltage source inverters that combine the power modules with the open ends of the windings (OEW) of the module machine armature, and provide control of their operation. Based on the developed mode system of the OEW machine module operation for EV traction and braking, a general control algorithm for the proposed configuration of the modular EV powertrain system has been developed. It combines the control of the operating modes with the functions of maintaining the required SOC level of the SCM and equalizing the SOCs of the two battery modules. The conducted simulation and experimental studies confirmed the workability and effectiveness of the proposed solutions.

Geomagnetic induced current (GIC) is a ground end manifestation associated with the space weather perturbations that should be greatly taken into account by the society. Although the GICs implication to the power system is not regular, it can cause large scale of system failure. In equatorial, the power system is considered safe since the most intense of geomagnetic storm happened in high latitude. However, the internal damage due to GICs which finally led to the South African power system failure has totally changed the normal perception. Therefore, a preliminary investigation on the GICs activity in equatorial region is performed to understand the space weather impact to the power system. Time derivative of the horizontal magnetic field component (dB/dt) is done to indicate the GICs activity value based on Faraday’s law. All the reported power failures are compiled to produce the threshold value of dB/dt, which possibly cause the harmful effect to the system. Then, dB/dt analysis is extended to show the pattern of GICs activity in function of magnetic latitude and local time. The results reveal that power network in equatorial region has possibly suffered by GIC. Plus, high number of intense GIC activity in this region occurred during dayside.

An effective battery management system (BMS) is indispensable for any lithium-ion battery (LIB) powered systems such as electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary grid-tied energy storage systems. Massive wire harness, scalability issue, physical failure of wiring, and high implementation cost and weight are some of the major issues in conventional wired-BMS. One of the promising solutions researchers have come up with is the wireless BMS (WBMS) architecture. Despite research and development on WBMS got momentum more than a decade ago, it is still in a preliminary stage. Significant further upgradation is still required towards developing an industry-ready WBMS, especially for high-power LIB packs. Therefore, an in-depth survey exclusively on WBMS architectures is presented in this article. The aim is to provide a summary of the existing developments as well as to present an informative guide to the research community for future development by highlighting the issues, emerging trends, and challenges. In-depth analysis of the existing WBMS topologies will not only help the researchers to understand the existing challenges and future research scopes clearly while at the same time enthuse them to focus their research inclination in the domain of WBMS.

The economical load dispatch problem is a critical concern in thermal power systems to ensure cost-effective operation. This paper conducts a comparative analysis between the Social Spider Algorithm (SSA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for economical load dispatch in a 6-unit thermal power system with the integration of 11,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). Both SSA and PSO are population-based optimization techniques designed to minimize the overall fuel cost while satisfying the load demand by determining the optimal power output of each unit. SSA emulates the social behavior of spiders, while PSO simulates the collective intelligence of a swarm of particles. Performance evaluation of the algorithms considers power system data, such as unit fuel costs, minimum and maximum loads, and total load demand. The objective is to minimize fuel cost while meeting the load demand. Comparative analysis of SSA and PSO includes convergence speed, solution quality, and computational efficiency. Experimental results indicate that SSA outperforms PSO in achieving a more optimal and economical load dispatch solution for the 6-unit thermal power system. SSA demonstrates faster convergence and provides superior-quality solutions compared to PSO. This paper contributes to the field by highlighting SSA's effectiveness in achieving cost-efficient operation of thermal power systems. The findings suggest that SSA holds promise as an optimization technique for similar power system optimization problems, enhancing overall operational efficiency and reducing costs for thermal power plants.

The integration of renewable energy and hybrid energy storage system (HESS) into electrified railways to build electric railway smart microgrid system (ERSMS) is beneficial for reducing fossil fuel consumption and minimizing energy waste. However, the fluctuations of renewable energy generation and traction load challenge the energy management effectiveness for such a complex system. In this work, an energy management strategy is proposed which firstly decomposes the renewable energy into low-frequency and high-frequency components by an integrated empirical mode decomposition (IEMD). Then, a two-stage energy distribution approach is utilized to appropriately distribute the energy flow among the ERSMS. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed solution are validated through case study.

Electric vehicles (EV) are getting more commonplace in the transportation sector in recent times. As the present trend suggests, this mode of transport is likely to replace the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in near future. Each of the main EV components has a number of technologies that are currently in use or can become prominent in the future. EVs can cause significant impacts on the environment, power system, and other related sectors. The present power system can face huge instabilities with enough EV penetration; but with proper management and coordination, EVs can be turned into a major contributor to the successful implementation of smart grid. There are possibilities of immense environmental benefits as well, as the EVs can extensively reduce the greenhouse gas emission from the transportation sector. However, there are some major obstacles for EVs to overcome before replacing the ICE vehicles totally. This paper is focused on reviewing all the useful data available on EV configurations, energy sources, motors, charging techniques, optimization techniques, impacts, trends, and possible directions of future developments. Its objective is to provide an overall picture of the current EV technology and ways of future development to assist in future researches in this sector.

Keywords: Аrtificial neural network, electric drive system, database, stability, training algorithm, technological mechanisms.

To regulate the growth of battery-based electric vehicles (BEVs) in Indonesia and mitigate their impact on the power grid's supply-demand balance, the government can adjust BEV regulations and offer subsidies. The Jawa-Madura-Bali (Jamali) electrical system, being the largest in Indonesia [1], faces the challenge of accommodating the increasing number of vehicles [2]. Subsequent to analyzing Jamali's electricity supply using data from the National Electricity Company (RUPTL) [3], simulations are constructed to model the grid's demand side. Input variables such as Jamali's population, internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle populations, initial charging time (ICT), slow- and fast-charging ratios, and BEV charge load curves are simulated. Scenario variables like supply capacity growth speed, vehicle population growth speed, subsidy impact on EV attractiveness, ICT, and fast-charging ratio are subsequently simulated for 2024-2029. Four key simulation outcomes are identified: the best-case scenario (Scenario 1776), achieves the highest EV growth with minimal grid disruption, resulting in a 45.38% EV percentage in 2029 and requiring an annual allocation of 492 billion rupiah to match supply with demand. The worst outcome scenario leads to a 23.12% EV percentage, necessitating 47.566 billion rupiah for EV subsidies in 2029. Additionally, the most and least probable scenarios based on literature research are evaluated. This simulation and its results provide insights into EV growth's impact on the grid's balance in one presidential term from 2024 to 2029 [4], aiding the government in planning regulations and subsidies effectively. Improving the simulation's accuracy depends on refining input variables over time.

Electric field assisted combustion is an important means to improve fuel combustion efficiency. This paper conducts extensive research on flame characteristics under different forms and different application methods of electric fields, emission of soot particles and simulation status. Different flame parameter measurement methods will lead to different degrees of error, and perfect numerical simulation can make simple predictions on experimental data. Most of the current numerical simulations are in two dimensions, and it is necessary to develop a complete and accurate three-dimensional model to simulate and predict the characteristics of the flame under an electric field. The emission of soot particles is also affected by the electric field, and reasonable electric field parameters can greatly reduce the emission of soot particles. It is recommended to conduct centralized measurement of different fuels under the electric field under high pressure and temperature conditions, so as to be able to develop a wider and more accurate flame dynamics and chemical model under the electric field.

Accurate estimation of the state of health (SOH) of batteries for automotive applications, particularly in electric vehicle battery management systems (EV-BMS), is still under study and is highly relevant to ensure battery system availability. This paper proposes a comprehensive SOH estimation method that goes beyond the methods that are based on the estimation of the battery available capacity by the integral of the current, or the estimation of the increase of the internal resistance of the battery. The SOH estimator is based on a partial capacity discharge method and a linear state of charge (SOC) observer based on an equivalent electrical circuit model. This method uses readily available manufacturer data and is designed for real-time applications. The proposed method was tested and validated with three different automotive battery technologies in a Model-In-Loop (MIL) environment with OPAL-RT platform, utilizing voltage and current measurements of pulsed discharge current profiles at temperature-controlled conditions and an electric vehicle’s driving profile.

The goal of the study presented in this article is to investigate interconnection issues of the Intelligent Electrical Networks (IENs) with the existing ones, as well as the deployment of the appropriate load forecasting demand techniques. The concept of IENs has recently emerged as a potential solution to the global energy problem, due to the more flexible dispersed production units that are involved. In the same context, additional issues, such as the reduction of production-transfer-distribution costs as well as power losses are analyzed as well, via the penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs). To this end, it is necessary to use appropriate advanced infrastructure, where in combination with modern telecommunication networks will make possible the full exploitation of IENs. Moreover, to make the electricity system more efficient, to avoid voltage and frequency imbalance issues and to implement optimal production and consumption planning, the Electric Load Forecast (ELF) is a vital process and plays a key role in the planning as well as in the management of electricity systems. Therefore, recent state of the art approaches in ELF methods are discussed as well.

This paper presents a novel real time control strategy on four-wheel independent steering system for electric vehicle with stepper motors using neural networks combined with fuzzy logic. The control of the four wheels is based on a variation of Hopfield Neural Network (VHNN) method, in which the input is the error of each steering motor and the output is processed by a hyperbolic tangent function (HTF) feeding the fuzzy logic controller (FLC), which ultimately drives the stepper motor. The whole system is made up of the four aforementioned blocks where they work in sync and inseparable from each other with the common goal of driving all the steering stepper motors at the same time. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control method has strong robustness and practicability under different angles and speeds.

This article presents a novel approach to understanding the influence of electric Energy on space-time curvature. EFE actual calculations refer solely to gravitational charges. In this article, I expand them to include the electric charge with calculations carried specifically for electric charges, with exciting results. The article leverages the universal consistency of physical laws, applying the known effects of gravitational charges on space-time curvature to electric charges. The research focuses on calculating the specific impact of electric charges on space-time curvature, rooted in the principle that space-time curvature is omnipresent. The findings reveal that space-time curvature's alteration due to an electric charge is influenced by various factors, including the charge's location, magnitude, mass, density, associated electric field, and its motion through space-time. Notably, the conversion factor for electric charges differs from the conversion factor for gravitational charges. These insights significantly enhance our understanding of electromagnetism and general relativity, paving the way for a more profound comprehension of electric charges.

This paper provides a proof of concept for a linear electric generator that can be used to harvest energy from various sources of linear motion, such as vibrations, free-piston engines and wave energy. The generator can be used to power small electronic devices, such as sensors, or charge household batteries. Literature was reviewed to develop an understanding about the applications, control methods, excitation methods and mechanics of rotating and linear electric machines. A bidirectional, two-sided linear machine was designed with two stator cores and a single mover core. The stator windings and mover winding can be independently excited, allowing for three modes: no mover excitation, DC excited mover, and AC excited mover. Simulations results showed that the magnetic flux generated by DC excited stator cores were concentrated in the centre of the mover core. The use of two stator cores eliminates lateral flux in the mover core when it is not excited, minimising attraction and repulsion forces. Parametric analysis showed that flux cutting occurred in all operation modes, verifying that the generator will produce power when operating. Hardware tests produced an output current when the machine is electrically and mechanically excited, verifying the proposed design.

The state-of-the-art smart city has been calling for an economic but efficient energy management over large-scale network, especially for the electric power system. It is a critical issue to monitor, analyze and control electric loads of all users in system. In this paper, we employ the popular computer vision techniques of AI to design a non-intrusive load monitoring method for smart electric energy management. First of all, we utilize both signal transforms (including wavelet transform and discrete Fourier transform) and Gramian Angular Field (GAF) methods to map one-dimensional current signals onto two-dimensional color feature images. Second, we propose to recognize all electric loads from color feature images using a deep neural network with multi-scale feature extraction and attention mechanism. Third, we design our method as a cloud-based, non-intrusive monitoring of all users, thereby saving energy cost during electric power system control. Experimental results on both public and our private datasets have demonstrated our method achieves superior performances than its peers, and thus supports efficient energy management over large-scale Internet of Things.

This study conducted experiments to optimize the electro-dewatering of sludge using a dynamic model calculation method and the Wild Horse optimizer. Specifically, we explored two factors that might influence dewatering: the composition of the electrode materials and the strength of the electrical field. Compared to other electrodes commonly used in electro-dewatering—such as RuO2/Ir2O3-Ti, graphite, Ir2O3/Ta2O5-Ti, and Ti—the Electro-kinetic Geosynthetics (EKG) electrode exhibited superior performance. This was determined by considering both energy consumption and model establishment. Our findings also identified electric-field strength as a crucial factor determining the final moisture content. As the electrical intensity increased, the dewatering effect improved, aligning with our model calculations. However, we observed a steep increase in energy consumption per kilogram of filtrate when the electric-field strength exceeded a certain threshold. To optimize the energy consumption of the dehydration process, we constructed a multi-factor model. The simulation results from this model confirmed that electric-field intensity is the primary factor affecting dehydration. It was established that 10 V/cm is a critical threshold for the process.

The olfactory system is capable of distinguishing individual odorants from among a virtually unlimited number. Fish, for example, detect changes in the electric field environment induced by prey and other sources. Floral electric fields exhibit variations in pattern and structure, which can be discriminated by bumblebees. We have constructed an electric field sensor, which, in the course of focussing on achieving maximum sensitivity and consistency, ultimately resembles features of the insect sensorium. A “fingerprint” 3D plot ( time, frequency range, voltage amplitude), representing the emitted electric field profile, is presented for each of a variety of odorants and other chemicals. The substance-specific electric-field emission and identification is not impeded by containers or barriers or distance.

Directional protective relaying based on amplitude comparison of traveling wave on continuous co-phase auto-transformer(AT) power transmission system was proposed. Phase-model transformation is used for decoupling transient fault signals and get aerial mode component. The forward and backward traveling wave are obtained by calculating aerial mode component, then the intrinsic mode function(IMF) components can be obtained through Variational Mode Decomposition(VMD), the module maxima are obtained through calculating the IMF components. The fault direction is determined by the ratio of fault components. If two faults relays at the ends of electric traction networks detect a fault to be in the forward direction, the fault occurred in the internal area, the protection would operate properly. The simulation tests indicate that the protection scheme is feasible, and the proposed protection method can discriminate internal faults from external faults under various fault types, and its performances are immune to fault initial angle, ground resistance, etc.

In this research, the concept of the instability of tension in Microgrid still becomes the focus of study and purpose. Scrutinously, First-Swing Instability occurs in the system in noted changes with properties of making the system unstable or restore to a state of stability. The latter calls itself as a phenomenon of re-synchronization. Allied to aspects of system instability, it is evident that by connecting fast electric chargers for battery-electric vehicles to the distribution system from microgrids, they increase the necessary basic electrical charges and reduce the stability of the electrical energy system. Transient electrical currents have the characteristic of severely impacting microgrids not prepared in connected states or island of the main system. The occurrences of the electromagnetic incompatibility of the inrush current, due to their unpredictability and intermittent characteristic, have complex identification studies. With the elevation of electricity demand by battery-electric vehicle chargers, concerns about the effects of the integration of the electricity grid increase proportionally. The research described in this article emphasizes the influence of fast chargers’ initialization on the power variation related to the re-synchronization phenomenon and its mitigation of the stability of electricity microgrid. An optimization algorithm based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) implements the development of virtual impedances. The PSO optimization algorithm analyzes all possible operating points and aims to maximize the stability index of microgrid, maintaining reactive energy incompatibilities at the minimum level supported. The fractional objective function facilitates the service to these goals simultaneously. The optimization algorithm is implemented in a case study and the corresponding virtual impedance is incorporated into the microgrid. Voltage levels are verified as a condition in the optimization process, comparing system effectiveness.

Solar powering the increasing fleet of electrical vehicles (EV) demands more surface area than may be available for photovoltaic (PV) powered buildings. Parking lot solar canopies can provide the needed area to charge EVs, but are substantially costlier than roof- or ground-mounted PV systems. To provide a lower-cost PV parking lot canopy to supply EV charging beneath them, this study provides a full mechanical and economic analysis on three novel PV canopy systems: (1) exclusively wood, single parking spot spanning system, (2) wood and aluminum double parking spot spanning system, and (3) wood and aluminum cantilevered system for curbside parking. All systems can be scalable to any amount of EV parking spots. The complete designs and bill of materials (BOM) of the canopies are provided along with basic instructions and are released with an open source license that will enable anyone to fabricate them. The results found single-span systems have cost savings of 82%-85%, double-span systems save 43%-50%, and cantilevered systems save 31%-40%. In the first operation year, the PV canopies can provide 157% of energy needed to charge the least efficient EV currently on the market if it is driven the average driving distance in London ON, Canada.

The development of electric aircrafts is becoming an important technology for achieving the goals set by the European Commission for the reduction of gases emissions by 2050 in the aeronautical transportation system. However, there is a gap between the values of specific power in commercial electric machines and the ones required for aeronautical applications. Therefore, the search for alternative materials and non-conventional designs is mandatory. One emergent solution is using superconducting machines and systems to overcome the current limits of conventional electrical machines. This work reviews the new hybrid and all-electric aircraft tendencies, complementing it with recent research on the design and development of high specific power superconducting machines. This includes the main topologies for hybrid and all-electric aircraft, with an overview of the ongoing worldwide projects of these types of aircrafts, systematizing the main characteristics of their propulsion systems. It also includes the research on superconducting machines for the purpose of high specific power, considering the impact on the redesign of aircraft systems in the electrical, cooling, and fuel source sense.

In this paper, we examined the temperature variations of key constituents during the operational cycle of a custom-built electric vehicle. The vehicle was made employing a motor of 10kW, a KLS7275D controller, and a lithium-ion battery. Temperature sensors for monitoring was affixed to the motor, controller, and battery, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of thermal behaviors. A controlled 20 minute driving tests encompassing both high and low speeds were executed to scrutinize temperature variations. Our findings reveal that the controller exhibited the most substantial temperature fluctuation compared to the battery and motor. Results shows the importance of thermal management strategies for components to ensure optimal driving performance and component reliability in electric vehicles.

A self-propelled electric tea seed-planter is designed to address the lack of tea seed seeding equipment, low seeding efficiency, and poor seeding uniformity. Based on the physical characteristics of the tea seeds and the agronomic requirements of tea planting, the key structure of the planter is designed, and the structural parameters are determined. The motor and battery configurations are determined by calculating the power consumption of the entire machine. In a field experiment, the driving gear (A), ditching depth (B), and planting gear position (C) are used as test factors, and the acceptance index (AI), replay index (RI) and leakage index (LI) are used as test indexes. The test results showed that the driving speed and planting gear position significantly affect the acceptance index, replay, and leakage index, whereas the ditching depth has little effect on the performance indexes. When the driving speed was medium, ditching depth was 30 mm, and planting gear position was in the third gear, the corresponding acceptance index was 87.22%, the replay index was 8.89%, and the leakage index was 3.89%. The test prototype has a good working quality and can provide theoretical guidance for production practices.

Zero-emission trucks for regional and long haul missions are an option for fossil-free freight. The viability of such powertrains and system solutions was studied conceptually in project ESCALATE for trucks with GVW of 40 tonnes and beyond through various prime mover combinations. The study covers battery and fuel cell power sources with different degrees of battery electric as well as H2 and fuel cell operation. As a design basis, two different missions with a single-charge/H2 refill were analysed. The first mission was the VECTO long haul profile repeated up to 750 km, whereas the second was a real 520 km on-road mission in Finland. Based on the simulated energy consumption on the driving cycle, on-board energy demand was estimated, and the initial single-charge operational scenarios were analysed with five different power source topologies. The traction motors of the tractor were dimensioned so that a secondary mission of GVW up to 76 tons on a shorter route can be operated. Based on the powertrain and vehicle model, various infrastructure options for charging and H2 refuelling strategy as well as various operative scenarios with indicative total cost of ownership (TCO) were analysed.

The present study reports a critical review of NIO's business model, considering the evolving landscape of the electric vehicle market and servicing. The objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive framework that facilitates the identification of key elements characterizing a company's business model and highlights ongoing transformations, crucial for adaptation and survival in a rapidly changing environmental context. Focusing on the case study of NIO, a relatively young Chinese original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specializing in high-tech electric cars, the research delves into the challenging scenario of the Chinese electric vehicle market, which has recently faced a bubble in 2023. The market proliferation, supply chain disruptions, and price wars triggered by Tesla have resulted in a survival struggle for numerous automotive startups, leaving larger companies with increasing market shares. Despite facing adversities, NIO managed to secure a promising segment, catering to premium-range battery electric vehicles (BEVs), establishing a competitive advantage through differentiation. By pursuing ambitious investments, the company aims to create economies of scope and achieve cost leadership, venturing into new market sectors and vertically integrating the production chain. Given NIO's agility in adapting to market conditions, aggressive entry into new segments, and a strategic vision for the future, it serves as an excellent candidate for testing and validating the proposed framework. The research sheds light on NIO's trajectory and offers insights into its potential for sustained growth in the dynamic electric vehicle market.

As we all know, contemporary electromagnetic theory is based on the macroscopic electromagnetic theory established by the 19th century. Because of the lack of microscopic cognition in that era, various electromagnetic phenomena could only be explained and described at the macro level, and their origins could not be explained at the micro level. And because of the microscopic understanding of atomic physics in the 20th century, new progress has been made. Considering that it is now the 21st century, this paper attempts to establish a new theory of microscopic interpretation of classical electromagnetic theory based on the new cognition of atomic physics in the 20th century. Starting from the general assumption, the current will be interpreted as the momentum flow produced by the directed collision between electrons; the charge will be interpreted as a form of expression of electron motion; the voltage is interpreted as the potential difference (energy level difference) of the electron orbit. In the end, this paper successfully developed a new microscopic electromagnetic theory by introducing microscopic atomic physics and rigid body mechanics models to Maxwell's macroscopic electromagnetic theory.

Nanocrystalline La_1-xNd_xFeO₃ powders with different concentrations of Nd³⁺ have been synthesized by modified Pechini method. Their structure was studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Further, La_1-xNd_xFeO₃ nanoceramics were prepared by high pressure sintering technique. The luminescence spectra of the powders were investigated as a function of concentration of active dopant to check the possible energy transfers observed due to Nd³⁺ concentration changes. The electrical and magnetic properties of the powders and ceramics were investigated to determine the effect of Nd³⁺ doping on the dielectric permittivity and magnetization in the wide frequency range.

We report on ground-based measurements of the atmospheric electric field (Ez= -Potential Gradient (PG)) and current density (Jz) that were conducted at two locations in Israel. One is the Emilio Segre cosmic ray station located on Mt. Hermon (34.45 N, 2020 m AMSL) located in northern Israel near the Syrian-Lebanon border and at the other at the Wise astronomical observatory in the Negev desert highland plateau of southern Israel (31.18 N, 870 m AMSL). We searched for possible effects of strong, short-term solar events on the potential gradient and the vertical current density, as disruption to the Global Electric Circuit are often observed following strong solar events. The first case study (St. Patrick Day, 17 March 2015) was classified as the strongest event of 2015. The second case study (8 Sep 2017) was categorized as the strongest event of 2017 and one of the twenty strongest events on record to date. The results show that the electrical parameters measured at ground level at both stations were not affected during the two massive proton events and the ensuing geomagnetic storms. The magnetospheric shielding in lower latitudes is strong enough to shield against flux of energetic particles from solar events, obscuring any impact that may be noticeable above the local daily variations induced by local meteorological conditions (aerosol concentrations, clouds, high humidity, and wind speed) which were investigated as well.

By 2020, over 100 countries expanded electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (EV/PHEV) technologies, with global sales surpassing 7 million units. Governments are adopting cleaner vehicle technologies due to proven environmental and health implications of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), evidenced by the recent COP26 meeting. This article proposes an agent-based model of vehicle activity as a tool for quantifying energy consumption by simulating a fleet of EV/PHEVs within an urban street network at various spatio-temporal resolutions. Driver behaviour plays a significant role in fuel consumption, thus, simulating various levels of individual behaviour enhancing heterogeneity should provide more accurate results of potential energy demand in cities. The study found that 1) energy consumption is lowest when speed limit adherence increases (low variance in behaviour) and is highest when acceleration/deceleration patterns vary (high variance in behaviour) and 2) on average, for tested vehicles, EV/PHEVs were £116.33 cheaper to run than ICEVs across all experiment conditions. The difference in the average fuel costs (electricity and petrol) shrinks at the vehicle level as driver behaviour is less varied (more homogeneous). This research should allow policymakers to quantify the demand for energy and subsequent fuel costs in cities.

This work targets the development of a mobility control system for high-speed series hybrid electric tracked vehicles, which operate with independent traction motors for each track. The scope of the research encompasses the modeling of the series hybrid powertrain specific to military tracked vehicles, as well as an in-depth analysis of their dynamic behavior. Subsequently, the study conducts a critical review of the mobility control approaches sourced from literature, identifying key techniques relevant to high-inertia vehicular applications. Building on the foundational models, the study puts forward a robust closed-loop mobility control system aimed at ensuring precise and stable off-road vehicle operations. The system's resilience and adaptability to a variety of driving conditions are emphasized, with a particular focus on handling maneuvers such as steering and pivoting, which are challenging operations for tracked vehicle agility. The performance of the proposed mobility control system is tested through a series of simulations, covering a spectrum of operational scenarios. These tests are carried out in both offline simulation settings, which permit meticulous fine-tuning of system parameters, and real-time environments that replicate actual field conditions. The simulation results demonstrate the system's capacity to improve vehicular response and highlight its potential impact on the future designs of mobility control systems for the heavy-duty vehicle sector, particularly in defense applications.

In some clinical applications pulsating currents are delivered into a body region for therapeutic purposes. In this paper we analyze the generated thermal field with the aim of determining the amplitude, period and duration of those stimuli, guaranteeing that the temperature of the interested tissue stays below the necrosis threshold.

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation can lead to painful defecations, fecal incontinence, and abdominal pain, significantly affecting a child's quality of life. Treatment options include non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches, but some cases are intractable and require alternative interventions like neuromodulation. A subtype of neuromodulation, called Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation (TPTNS), comprises electrical stimulation at the ankle level, by means of electrodes fixed to the skin. TPTNS is a minimally invasive, easy-to-apply technique that can potentially improve constipation symptoms in the pediatric population by stimulating the sacral nerves. AIM: To evaluate the clinical results and applicability of TPTNS as an adjuvant treatment for children and adolescents with functional constipation. METHODS: Between April 2019 and October 2021, 38 patients diagnosed with functional constipation according to the Rome IV Criteria were invited to participate in the study. The study followed a single-center, uncontrolled, prospective cohort design. Patients received TPTNS for 4 or 8 weeks, with assessments conducted immediately after the periods of TPTNS and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention period. The data normality distribution was determined by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Wilcoxon test and Student's t-test for paired samples were used to compare quantitative variables, and the McNemar test was used to compare categorical variables. RESULTS: Of the 38 enrolled patients, 28 children and adolescents with intractable function constipation completed the study, receiving TPTNS for 4 weeks. Sixteen patients (57.1%) extended the intervention period for 4 extra weeks, receiving 8 weeks of intervention. TPTNS led to significant improvements in stool consistency, frequency of defecation, and bowel function scores, with a reduction in abdominal pain. Quality of life across physical and psychosocial domains showed substantial enhancements. The quality of life-related to bowel habits also improved significantly, particularly in lifestyle, behavior, and embarrassment domains. The positive effects of this intervention are seen relatively early, detected after 4 weeks of intervention, and even 4 weeks after the end of the intervention. TPTNS was well-tolerated, with an adherence rate of approximately 78%, and no adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSION: TPTNS is an adjuvant treatment for intractable functional constipation, improving bowel function and quality of life. The effects of TPTNS were observed relatively early and sustained even after treatment cessation.

Hybrid electric vehicles are certainly one of the key solutions for improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, especially in special vehicle application and with the use of CO2 neutral fuels. Determining the energy management strategy and finding the optimal solution with regard to the aforementioned goals re-mains the one of the main challenges in the design of HEV. This paper presents a new vehicle modeling method, with an emphasis on HEVs, which is based on the frequency analysis of emissions and consumption according to the current specific traction power of the vehicle. The evaluation of the newly introduced model in the RDE, NEDC and WLTP cycle was performed and the results were compared with the standard verified vehicle model that was created in AVL's CruiseM software package. Positive traction energies have positive deviations of between 0.35% and 2.85%. The largest deviation in CO2 emissions was recorded for the HEV model in the RDE cycle and in the non-hybrid model in the WLTP cycle of 3.79% and 4.4% respectively, all other combinations of cycle and vehicles had deviations of up to about 1%. As expected, the largest relative deviations were recorded for NOx emissions from 0.13% to 9.62% for HEV in the WLTP cycle.

Conversion of electromagnetic energy into magnetohydrodynamic energy occurs when the electric conductivity changes from negligible to finite values. This process is relevant during the epoch of reheating of the early Universe at the end of inflation and before the emergence of the radiation-dominated era. We find that conversion into kinetic and thermal energies is primarily the result of electric energy dissipation and that the magnetic energy plays only a secondary role in this process. This means that, since electric energy dominates over magnetic energy during inflation and reheating, significant amounts of electric energy can be converted into magnetohydrodynamic energy when conductivity emerges early enough, before the relevant length scales become stable.

In current electric vehicles, the traction battery is intended to store energy. When designing this battery different parameters must be taken into account in order to arrange the battery/module/cells in the mechanically and thermally safest configuration. Moreover, the battery layout must have a correct dynamic behavior in possible collisions. In the present study, different battery configurations plus added energy absorbers are analyzed. In order to do that, an internal combustion vehicle modeled with finite elements is applied as the reference model. The structural behavior of the different battery configurations in the event of a side collision is examined. Firstly, the safest arrangement is stablished, both with respect to cabin intrusion and thermal runaway propagation. Secondly, the safest arrangement that guarantees the safety of the occupants in the event of a side collision is analyzed but using the MADYMO. This software includes experimentally validated dummies which allow have an insight in the stresses experienced by occupants. On the one hand, the analysis states that the battery pack inclusion in the vehicle increases the stiffness of the car floor, resulting in fewer intrusions in the passenger compartment. Therefore, a greater safety for the occupants is reached. On the other hand, none of the configurations analyzed has shown enough safety against the phenomenon of Thermal Runaway.

The rhythmical nature of the cardiovascular system constantly generates dynamic mechanical forces. At the center of this system is the heart which must detect these changes and adjust its performance accordingly. Mechano-electric feedback provides a rapid mechanism for detecting even subtle changes in the mechanical environment and transducing these signals into electrical responses which can adjust a variety of cardiac parameters such as heart rate and contractility. However, pathological conditions can disrupt this intricate mechanosensory system and manifest as potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Mechanosensitive ion channels are thought to be the main proponents of mechano-electric feedback as they provide a rapid response to mechanical stimulation and can directly affect cardiac electrical activity. Here we demonstrate that the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 is expressed in zebrafish cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, chemically prolonging Piezo1 activation in zebrafish results in cardiac arrhythmias indicating that this ion channel plays an important role in mechano-electric feedback. This also raises the possibility that Piezo1 gain of function mutations could be linked to heritable cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation in humans.

In this theoretical study we report on molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of titled molecules confined by repulsive potentials of cylindrical symmetry mimicking a topology. Our calculations show that the spatial restriction significantly changes the picture of MEP of molecules in quantitative and qualitative sense. In particular, the drastic changes of MEP as a function of the strength of spatial confinement are observed for the BrCN molecule. This preliminary study is the first step in the investigations of the behavior of MEP of molecular systems under the orbital compression.

Electrifying aircraft, a crucial advancement in the aviation industry, aims to cut pollutive emissions and boost energy efficiency. Traditional aircraft depend on fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Despite progress in electric propulsion and energy storage technologies, challenges such as low energy density and integration issues persist. This paper provides a comprehensive thematic and bibliometric analysis to map the research landscape in aircraft electrification, identifying key research themes, influential contributors, and emerging trends. The study applies natural language processing to unstructured bibliographic data and cross-sectional statistical methods to analyze publications, citations, and keyword distributions across various categories related to aircraft electrification. The findings reveal significant growth in research output, particularly in energy management and multidisciplinary design analysis. Collaborative networks highlight key international partnerships, with the United States and China being key research hubs, while citation metrics highlight the impact of leading researchers and institutions in these countries. This study provides valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, guiding future research directions and collaborations.

This study investigates the impact of geomagnetic storms that occurred on June 8, 22-23, and 25, 2015, on the ionosphere in the low-latitude and equatorial regions of Brazil. By examining various data sources, such as solar wind parameters from the ACE satellite, GPS vertical total electron content (VTEC), magnetometer data, and the SAMI2 model, we aimed to simulate the effects of storms on the ionosphere in these regions. Two methods were employed to separate DP2 and Disturbance dynamo (Ddyn) from the ionospheric disturbance current (Diono). Our analysis revealed a positive (negative) ionospheric storm in the VTEC during the main phase (recovery) of the June 22-23 and 25 storms. This observation can be attributed to the combined impact of the eastward prompt penetration of the magnetospheric convection electric field (westward disturbance dynamo electric field) and changes in the storm-time thermospheric [O]/[N_2] ratio based on the GUVI satellite imagery. Notably, the westward disturbance dynamo exhibited a significant amplitude on June 23 in Belem. The amplitude of the D_dyn at Belem (dip lat: - 0.47˚) was greater than that at Alta Floresta (dip lat: - 3.75˚) due to intensified cowling conductivity in Belem. Furthermore, we found that the SAMI2 model provided more accurate results when we replaced the default ExB drift with the vertical drift calculated from the ground-based magnetometer, enabling us to simulate the effect of the westward DDEF on VTEC during daytime.

For many years, energy monitoring at the most disaggregate level has been mainly sought through the idea of Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM). Nevertheless, a practical application of this concept in the residential sector should address the underlying concerns raised by the technical specifications of case studies. From one side, such an operation must handle common matters related to the essence of any NILM system. Although this aspect has been thoroughly investigated by basic research, it is limited to the properties of public datasets. On the other side, it must deal with specific concerns corresponding to uncommon situations. These circumstances impose further restrictions on existent NILM schemes, however, they have been overlooked due to the lack of pertinent databases to scrutinize. Accordingly, this paper presents applied research on a potential solution to NILM for Quebec residences. It carries out a relevant investigation into the multi-faceted nature of this problem in order to reveal barriers to feasible implementations in the context of Quebec. This work commences with a concise discussion about the NILM idea to highlight its essential requirements for a fruitful practice. Afterward, it provides a comparative statistical analysis to represent the specificity and potential challenges of the case study in accordance with NILM necessities. For this purpose, the examination exploits data from real-world measurement systems in the same and European regions. Subsequently, this study focuses on a load identification exercise by proposing a combinatory approach that utilizes the promise of sub-meter smart technologies to integrate the intrusive aspect of load monitoring with the non-intrusive one. The former is aimed at extracting overall heating demand from the aggregate one by a supervised procedure based on Deep Learning (DL) models while the latter is designed for disaggregating the residual load through an unsupervised process on the basis of clustering techniques. The results demonstrate that geographically-dependent cases create electricity consumption scenarios under which existing NILM methods can be questioned. From a realistic standpoint, this research elaborates on critical remarks to realize viable NILM systems, particularly, in Quebec houses.

Recently many researches of EOS (Electric Arc Furnace Oxidizing Slag) on application to construction industry have been carried out with increasing its production and limited reclamation site. EOS can be used as a fine aggregate for construction material, however, its engineering properties vary with the manufacturing process and producing district, causing a quality differences in material performance. In the work, EOS is obtained from steel manufacturing plants in South Korea and the engineering properties are evaluated for EOS and the cement mortar with EOS, respectively. From the tests, EOS is mainly made up of CaO, SiO₂, and FeO with 18.2% of larnite which has a crystal structure of β-C₂S with similar cement mineral. EOS mortar shows an increasing compressive strength with more EOS content, which is affected by a considerable amount of larnite (β-C2S) in EOS. The EOS based mortar with ERS (Electric Arc Furnace Reduction Slag) shows unsatisfactory results over the criteria for rate of change, which implies that more consideration must be taken for the usage of the mixed ERS and EOS for cement mortar due to swelling effect of ERS on dimensional stability.

This paper investigates a Local Strategy-Driven Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (LSD-MADDPG) method for demand-side energy management systems (EMS) in smart communities. Addressing critical challenges in EMS solutions such as data overhead, single-point failures, nonstationary environments, and scalability, the proposed LSD-MADDPG effectively harmonizes individual building needs with entire community energy management goals. By leveraging and sharing only strategic information among agents, the proposed approach demonstrates to optimize the EMS decision-making processes, while enhancing training efficiency and safeguarding data privacy - a critical concern in the community setting. The proposed LSD-MADDPG has proven to be capable of reducing energy costs and flattening community demand curve by coordinating indoor temperature control and electric vehicle charging schedules across multiple buildings. Comparative case studies reveal that LSD-MADDPG excels in both cooperative and competitive settings, aligning individual buildings’ energy management actions with overall community goals in a fair manner, highlighting its potential for future smart community energy management advancements.

To be CMOS-compatible, a low preparation temperature (< 500 °C) of ferroelectric films is required. In this study, BiFeO3 films were successfully fabricated at a low annealing temperature (< 450 °C) on aluminum foils by a metal-organic decomposition process. The annealing atmosphere on performance of BiFeO3 films was assessed at 440 ± 5℃. By replacing an O2-rich atmosphere with an N2-rich one, a better crystalline morphology was achieved in BiFeO3 films, resulting in better electric properties targeted for high-density ferroelectric random-access memory applications. These properties included a large remnant polarization (Pr~78.1 μC/cm2 @ 1165.2 kV/cm) and a high rectangularity (~91.3% @ 1165.2 kV/cm) of the P-E loop, along with excellent charge-retaining ability up to 1.0 × 103 s and a fatigue resistance reaching 1.0 × 109 switching cycles. The enhanced performance of BiFeO3 film in an N2-rich atmosphere maybe originated from the slightly high content of oxygen vacancies during the annealing process. Furthermore, decent electrical properties (Pr~70 μC/cm2 @ 1118.1 kV/cm) of the BiFeO3 films were achieved at a very low annealing temperature of 365 ±5 °C on aluminum foil substrates. These results offer a new idea for lowering the annealing temperature for integrated ferroelectrics in high-density FeRAM applications.

The characteristics of gap plasmon formed by nanoparticle-on-mirror (NPOM) structure composed of metal nanoparticles (MNP) and metal thin films have aroused the interest of various optoelectronic devices. The resonant spectrum obtained by the internal coupling effect of gap can be flexibly controlled by the polarization of incident light and the thickness of the dielectric layer between MNP and metal thin films. We have theoretically studied the resonance spectra of polarization-dependent gold ellipsoidal nanoparticles (GENP) and gold thin films in the gap region of NPOM structures. GENP and gold thin films are separated by a dielectric layer with a refractive index of 1.36. We observe that the intensity of the local electric field resonance peak in the gap region is inversely proportional to the polarization angle. Similarly, the intensity of the local electric field resonance peak in the gap region is inversely proportional to the thickness of the dielectric layer. We have obtained more than 2200 V/m local electric field intensity (dielectric layer thickness 0.3nm). Finally, the resonant peak wavelength of the electric field in the gap region of the NPOM structure is also controlled by the polarization angle of the incident light and the thickness of the dielectric layer.

Unmanned vehicles (UVs) have become increasingly important in various scenarios of civil and military operations. The present work aims at the conceptual design of a modular Amphibious Unmanned Ground Vehicle (A-UGV), that can be easily adapted for different types of land and/or water missions, with low monetary cost (<5k€, without sensors). Basing the design on the needs highlighted in the 2021 review of the Strategic Directive of the Portuguese Navy, the necessary specifications and requirements are established for two mission scenarios. Then a market research analysis focused on vehicles currently available, and their technological advances, is conducted to identify existing UVs solutions and respective characteristics/capabilities of interest to the current work. To study and define the geometry of the hull and the configuration of the A-UGV itself, preliminary computational structural and fluid analyses are carried out to ensure it complies with the specifications initially established. As a result, one obtains a fully electric vehicle, with approximate dimensions of 1050×670×450mm (length-width-height), enabled with 6×6 traction capable of reaching 20km/h in land, possesses amphibious capabilities of independent propulsion in water up to 8kts, and with an estimated autonomy of over 60 minutes.

Abstract: Recent years demonstrate the increased attention to radon from two scientific directions. After neglecting radon as earthquake precursors in 1990-th it becomes again the subject of earthquake-forecast papers discussions due to growing networks of the radon monitoring in different countries, especially, the technologies of real-time radon measurements where the gamma-spectrometers become the leader of interest as the sources of 222Rn identification. The second fast developing direction is including the radon in the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) models as a source of the boundary layer ionization. And here we encounter with second direction which is not connected with the earthquake forecast problems. It is the role of air ionization by radon as a source of the Global Electric Circuit (GEC) modification. In this publication we try to unite all these problems to present more complex view on radon as important element of our environment.

The maritime sector, grapples with environmental challenges, but the adoption of "cold ironing" emerges as a promising solution, signifying a shift toward sustainability by providing energy to ships at port, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and significantly lowering emissions, contributing to global climate change efforts. This transition towards renewable energy is especially crucial for islands like Lesvos, addressing challenges of high energy costs and environmental degradation resulting from reliance on imported fossil fuels, highlighting the potential for positive economic and environmental impacts. The existing literature highlights a research gap in the development of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) to support cold ironing operations, specifically due to the absence of specific data for the power demand needed in such operations and the lack of monitoring data for accurate calculations. This study's primary objective is to utilize real monitoring data from the port of Lesvos to evaluate the power demand for a potential cold ironing application. Additionally, the study aims to analyze the implementation of a wind power park to meet the energy needs of an electric port and evaluate the potential reduction in CO2 emissions. The database of Marine Traffic S.A. was utilized, while the determination of the energy used in-port per ship depended on factors such as the number of arrivals, the duration of hoteling, and the type of engine used by the ships. In addition, the software RETSCREEN was used for the energy analysis of a simulated 20 MW wind park that can support the in-port operations. The combined monthly energy demand for both main and auxiliary engines of shipping vessels at Mytilini port was assessed to be 6118 MWh and averaging a power demand equaled to 8.2 MW. The simulation analysis indicates that the annual electricity delivered to the port can be72080 MWh, with a significant portion remaining unused and exported to the grid, amounting to 14956 MWh annually. Due to demand fluctuations, in-port activities require an additional 924 MWh from the main electrical grid, which highlights the importance of additional measures like energy storage and demand-response practices for the gradual transition to 100% Renewable Energy Sources (RES) operations.

In this study, we focused on the eco-driving of electric vehicles (EVs). The target vehicle is an electric bus developed by our research team. Using the parameters of the bus and speed pattern optimization algorithm, we derived the EV eco-driving speed pattern. Compared to eco-driving of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICVs), we found several different characteristics. We verified these characteristics with actual vehicle driving test data of the target bus, and the results confirmed its rationality. The EV eco-driving method can improve electricity consumption by about 10% - 20% under the same average speed.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of jet-milling on lutein extraction contents of spinach powder (SP) and pulsed electric fields as a non-thermal pasteurization technology on spinach juice (SJ) to preserve lutein contents. SP particles were divided into SP-coarse (Dv50 = 315.2 μm), SP-fine (Dv50 = 125.20 μm), and SP-superfine (Dv50 = 5.59 μm) fractions and SP-superfine was added to SJ due to the highest contents of lutein extract. The PEF and thermal treatment were applied to evaluate the effects of preserving the lutein content of PEF during storage (25 days). The juice after being designated to untreated (no pasteurization), PEF1,2 (SJ treated with PEF 20 kV/cm 110 kJ/L, 150 kJ/L), Thermal1,2 (SJ treated with 90 ℃, 10 min and 121 ℃, 15 min). The sizes and surface shapes of superfine SP particles were more homogeneous and smoother than the other samples. SJ made with SP-superfine and treated by PEF had the highest lutein content and antioxidant activities among the group. Complex of jet-milling and PEF pasteurization could be great potential technologies to improve the lutein contents of lutein-enriched juice in the food industry.

The energy stored in an electric vehicle's battery would be drawn and distributed to the electrical grid to better drive energy consumption within a microgrid that includes a renewable generator(s) managed by a specific energy management strategy. This concept, known as vehicle-to-grid technology: V2G, makes the energy stored in the electric vehicle's battery more beneficial by discharging it to the public grid during periods of high demand. In this study, we will consider a vehicle system connected to a microgrid, which includes a photovoltaic generator reported from the <<PROPRE.MA>> project in the city of Tangier. We will elaborate the study of a strategy of the car connected to this V2G network. This allows electricity to be stored when rates are low (off-peak hours) and then used when prices rise (peak hours). Otherwise, the solar energy will cover the owner's needs, and the surplus will be injected into the distribution network. This strategy will manage the solar power, the load power, the state of charge of the EV battery, the time of day and the driving scenario. Using two driving profiles, we will show the performance of the proposed energy management strategy and the percentage contribution of the photovoltaic array of the <<PROPRE.MA>> project in the city of Tangier.

Electric energy is one of the driving forces in every country. The supply of electrical energy continues to present various challenges, such as high costs associated with procuring raw materials for generation, sparsely populated areas that are not connected to the main grid, and the need for infrastructure to support generation and network delivery. These challenges have contributed to the growing adoption of renewable energy sources, particularly solar photovoltaics (PV).In this study, we have developed a practical method to assess the spatial PV potential in a selected urban area. The methodology combines data collected from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, Geographic Information System (GIS), and the energy output from three remote photovoltaic systems installed at different locations. The results obtained from this approach not only provide the energy generated per square meter, per year (kWh m-2 yr-1), but also provides a base to calculate the potential distance that electric cars could travel based on the energy generated. To illustrate the application of this method, two practical cases were selected: Senglea, Malta, and Munxar, Gozo. These examples highlight the versatility and effectiveness of our approach for evaluating and harnessing solar energy through photovoltaic panels in different contexts.

New innovative green concepts in electrified vertical take-off and landing vehicles currently emerge as a revolution to urban mobility going into the third dimension (vertically). The high population density of cities makes the market share highly attractive while posing an extraordinary challenge for community acceptance due to the increasing and possibly noisier commuter traffic. In addition to passenger transport, package deliveries to customers by drones may enter the market. The new challenges associated with this increasing transportation need in urban, rural and populated areas pose challenges for established companies and startups to deliver low-noise emission products. The article's objective is to revisit the benefits and drawbacks of an affordable acoustic measurement campaign focused on early prototyping. In the very early phase of product development, often considerably limited resources are available. With this in mind, the article discusses the sound power results using the enveloping surface method in a typically available low-reflection room with a reflecting floor according to DIN EN ISO 3744:2011-02. The method is applied to a subsonic electric ducted fan (EDF) unit of a 1:2 scaled electrified vertical take-off and landing vehicle. The results show that considerable information at low costs can be gained for the early prototyping stage, despite this easy-to-use, easy-to-realize, and not fine-tuned measurement setup. Furthermore, the limitations and improvements to a possible experimental setup are presented to discuss a potentially more ideal measurement environment. Measurements at discrete operating points and transient measurements across the total operating range were conducted to provide complete information on the EDF's acoustic behavior. The rotor-self noise and the rotor-stator interaction were identified as primary tonal sound sources, along with the highest broadband noise sources located on the rotor. Based on engineering experience, a first acoustic improvement treatment is also quantified with a sound power level reduction of 4dB(A). In conclusion, the presented method is a beneficial first measurement campaign to quantify the acoustic properties of an electric ducted fan unit at minimal resources in a reasonable time of several weeks when starting from scratch.

Dirac’s equation depicts electron mass as either positive or negative. Taken as correct description of nature, the equation identifies electron mass as ‘electrically active’ and therefore fundamentally different from the ordinary, ‘electrically passive’ mass. Following this cue, I demonstrate that electron mass (m_e) is the natural elementary mass: positive (m_e⁺) and negative (m_e^–) elementary masses neutralise to an elementary unit of the electrically passive mass (2m_e⁰). Further, I show that electron mass (m_e^± ) and the electrostatic field (e_f^±) surrounding it compose an elementary charge (e^±), thereby relating charge to mass. Two plain principles underlie these findings. 1) Electric charge and gravitational mass have a common root: positive (e⁺) and negative (e^–) charges coexist as neutral charge (2e⁰), which is the quantum of gravitational mass. 2) Charge is a static (nonrelativistic) ‘atom of electricity’ and obeys the laws of electrostatics; electron is the same ‘atom of electricity’ at ultrahigh (relativistic) speed and obeys the laws of electrodynamics. That is, charges are electricity at rest; electrons are electricity in motion – ‘same physical entities two behavioural identities.’ A decisive proof that this paradigm shift correctly portrays is that it verifiably unifies Newton’s law of gravity and Coulomb’s law of electrostatics to: 8G/m_pm_e = K/e²; where G and K are the respective constants, m_p the proton mass, m_e the electron mass, and e the elementary charge. Ultimately, the insights simplify matter to pure ‘atoms’ of positive and negative electricity.

The problems of operating range and costs are the two most critical bottlenecks restricting the extensive application of electric vehicles at home and abroad. There are also some prominent problems in China's electric vehicles, such as slow improvement of electric vehicle's operating range, difficulty in charging, slow charging, low utilization efficiency of charging resources, and high battery cost for electric vehicles, which lead to poor competitiveness of electric vehicles compared with traditional internal combustion engine (I.C.E.) vehicles. This paper analyzes the key factors restricting the development and popularization of electric vehicles in China from the aspects of strategic policy, sales situation and self problems. Through summarizing the experience and lessons of French standardization development strategy and electric vehicle development mode, this paper puts forward the hypothesis leading the development of electric vehicles through standardization to enhance their competitiveness, gives the specific suggestions, and briefly analyzes the feasibility from the aspects of product situation. The research content of this paper provides a certain basis and ideas for the future research work.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active diterpenoid compound that is extracted from the leaves and stem of Cannabis sativa. Previous studies show that CBD is a non-psychotropic compound with significant anti-cancer effects. This study determines its cytotoxic effect on oral cancer cells and OECM1 cells and compares the outcomes with a chemotherapeutic drug, cisplatin. This study determines the effect of CBD on the viability, apoptosis, morphology and migration of OECM1 cells. Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is used to measure the change in cell impedance for cells that are treated with a series concentration of CBD for 24 hours. AlamarBlue and annexin V/7-AAD staining assays show that CBD has a cytotoxic effect on cell viability and induces cell apoptosis. ECIS analysis shows that CBD decreases the overall resistance and morphological parameters at 4 kHz in a concentration-dependent manner. There is a significant reduction in the wound-healing recovery rate for cells that are treated with 30 μM CBD. This study demonstrates that ECIS can be used for in vitro screening of anticancer drugs and is more sensitive, functional and comprehensive than traditional biochemical assays. CBD also increases cytotoxicity on cell survival and the migration of oral cancer cells, so it may be a therapeutic drug for oral cancer

We study the effect of oblique illumination on the functioning of a plasmonic nanoantenna for chiral light. The antenna is designed to receive a structured beam of light and produce a nanosized near-field distribution that possesses non-zero orbital angular momentum. The design consists of metal (gold) micro-rods laid on a dielectric surface and is compatible with well-developed nanofabrication techniques. Experimental arrangements often require such an antenna to operate in a tilted geometry, where input light is incident on the antenna at an oblique angle. We analyze the limitations that the angled illumination imposes and discuss approaches to mitigate these limitations. Through our numerical simulations, we find that tilt angles larger than 30 degrees require modifications to the antenna design. Our analysis guides current and future experimental configurations to pushing the limits of resolution and sensitivity.

An analysis is presented of the possible existence of a second anomalous dipole moment of Dirac’s particle next to the one associated with the angular momentum. It includes a discussion why, in spite of his own derivation, Dirac has doubted about its relevancy. It is shown why since then it has been overlooked and why it has vanished from leading textbooks. A critical survey is given on the reasons of its reject, including the failure of attempts to measure and the perceived violations of time reversal symmetry and charge-parity symmetry. It is emphasized that the anomalous electric dipole moment of the pointlike electron (AEDM) is fundamentally different from the quantum field type electric dipole moment of an electron (eEDM) as defined in the standard model of particle physics. The analysis has resulted into the identification of a third type Dirac particle, next to the electron type and the Majorana particle. It is shown that, unlike as in the case of the electron type, its second anomalous dipole moment is real valued and is therefore subject to polarization in a vector field. Examples are given that it may have a possible impact in the nuclear domain and in the gravitational domain.

All over the world energy is used for different purposes and hence its continuous high demand which has brought about an increase in crisis and prices of energy. Ghana has faced a lot of supply and high electricity consumption challenges over a period of time. The Energy Commission of Ghana has developed regulations and guidelines to help reduce high consumption challenges among users, these included the replacement of incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, ban of importation of low energy efficient appliances. In spite of the effort to reduce electricity wastage, there is still a high increase in electricity consumption. The research investigated what contributed to electricity consumption in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with the lecture halls as the main focus, the research also analyzed the current occupant behavior characterized by the electrical energy consumption practices. And investigated how the contemporary theories for reducing energy consumption was used in the lecture halls. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate occupants on their energy use practices in lecture halls that causes wastages, observation was made to establish relevant data on the use of contemporary theories for energy reduction in lecture halls. In a total of 110 occupants that responded to the questionnaire, 79 occupants almost always turn off electrical fitting and fixtures when not in use. From the responses, a majority of the occupants claimed to comply to best practices of energy use. The research concluded that some contemporary theories to reduce energy consumptions was not used and considered in the lecture halls.

The most common and taught membrane theory assumes that the membrane behaves as a kind of electrical capacitance that is exposed to an electrical current generated by an ionic flow. If this statement is verifiable, it can be confirmed by the laws of physics, mathematics and in particular electricity. We will demonstrate that this hypothesis is not verified and that it is necessary to modify biophysics according to already established and experimentally verified principles of physics.

The diffusion of electric vehicles (EVs) can be sustained by the presence of integrated solutions offering parking and clean power supply. The recourse to DC systems allows to better integrate EV bidirectional energy exchange, photovoltaic panels and energy storage. In this paper, a methodology for optimal techno-economic sizing of a DC-microgrid for covering EV mobility needs is carried out. It is based on the definition of different scenarios of operation, according to typical EV usage outlooks and environmental conditions. In each scenario, optimal operation is carried out by means of a specific approach for EV commitment on different stations. The sizing procedure is able to handle the modular structure of microgrid devices. The proposed approach is applied to a case study of envisaged EV service fleet for Bari port authority.

This study investigates the effect of different variables in the optimization of a hybrid air charging systems for marine diesel engines, exploring the potential for energy recovery and assistance using electric machines. The optimization parameters include turbine speed, compressor power, start of injection, turbomachine size, and valve timing. At low engine speeds, the larger improvements come from increasing compressor power, which increases air-to-fuel ratio compared with the baseline turbocharging. As free-floating turbocharged engines are known to have low air-to-fuel ratio at low engine speeds, the relative improvement of the hybrid architecture is large at low engine speeds, being near to 10% less BSFC. At high engine speeds, the largest influence is marked by the SOI, an early injection obtains a faster combustion, which improves gross efficiency. However, the relative improvement compared with baseline turbocharger is less than 1% at high engine speeds. Due to the distribution of relative improvement of BSFC, this architecture has a deeper impact on fuel consumption in vessel operating cycles that focus on low engine speeds and loads, such as those of tugboats.

The extreme environmental issues and the resulting needs to save energy have turned the attention to electrification of energy applications. One of the key components involved in energy efficiency improvements is the appropriate conception and manufacturing of electric machines. This paper overviews the electromagnetic analysis governing the behavior of permanent magnets that enabled substantial efficiency gains in recent electric machine developments. Particular emphasis is given to model the properties and losses developed in permanent magnets in the emerging high speed applications. In addition, the investigation of properties and harmonic losses related to ferromagnetic materials constituting the machine magnetic circuits are equally analyzed and discussed. The experimental validation of the implemented methodologies and developed models with respect to the obtained precision is reported. The introduction of mixed numerical techniques based on the finite element method intended to appropriately represent the different physical phenomena encountered is outlined and discussed. Finally, fast and accurate simulation techniques including aggregated lumped parameter models considering harmonic losses associated with inverter supplies are commented.

Application of aquifer delineation using hydro-geophysical techniques was conducted in De Aar, the eastern part of the Karoo region, Northern, South Africa. This study is aimed at demonstrating the use of hydrogeophycal techniques in delineating aquifer systems into unconfined and confined to estimate areas and zones likely to control ground-water recharge. An integrated hydrogeophysical approach using vertical electrical resistivity sounding (VES) and ground telluric methods was applied to delineate subsurface structures. Six VES surveys and seven profile surveys were measured using a Wenner array configuration and ground telluric method respectively. VES data was processed using IPI2win software and used to produce a 2D inference of the subsurface electrical resistivity model. The telluric passive surveys were processed through an automated in-built algorithm to generate 2D profile maps while the electric potential difference curve was interpreted with the lithological cross section constructed 2D conceptual model. The VES results showed four significant layers of low (0.9-8.1 Ωm), moderate (22.4-125 Ωm), and high 68-177 Ωm) electrical resistivity values which are suggestive of the different lithological formations. Additionally, the subsurface model from ground telluric methods supported shallow groundwater potential boreholes with the inference of fewer groundwater accumulations below 50 m. These hydrogeophysics results were compared to the drill chip lithological results and both suggested a double-layer aquifer system, which may therefore suggest that recharge estimation needs to be carried out in two different aquifers. The study therefore successfully demonstrated the use of geophysics techniques in delineating aquifer systems, thereby enhancing the identification of potential recharge areas.

The use of alternative fuels and electric vehicles is an opportunity to reducing exhaust emissions. We observe that the regulations on exhaust emissions from mobile sources are becoming gradually stricter on the all the world. As is widely known, using alternative fuels instead of conventional fuels helps lower vehicle emissions. The most popular alternative fuels are hydrogen, propane, biobutanol, methanol, dimethyl ether, etc. It is very important that more than a dozen alternative fuels are under development. The article contains a comparison of the operating costs of electric cars and cars with an internal combustion engine. This work shows also the characteristic of new alternative fuels and their impacts on exhaust emissions.

The presented work shows that a force (electromagnetic or gravitational) field surrounding any material body is not limitless, but has the external and internal boundaries (radii). Understanding the fact of the existence of the field boundaries allows us to solve the problem of infinities that exists in electrodynamics. It is shown that there are two different electrostatic potentials: with the dimension of speed and with the dimension of the square of speed.

The aquifer delineation using a hydrogeophysical survey was carried out in De Aar, a small town in the eastern part of the Karoo supergroup, Northern Cape, South Africa. In this re-gion, the current approach for estimating recharge, water allocation plans, and water monitoring does not consider the existence of different types of aquifers. Instead, it assumes there is one aquifer system and therefore the area might have one value of recharge. This study aimed to delineate aquifers into unconfined and confined aquifers for estimating recharge and demonstrate the use of geophysics techniques in delineating aquifer systems. Six VES stations and seven profile lines were measured using a Wenner array configuration and ground magnetotelluric method, respectively. VES data was processed using IPI2win software while electric potential difference curve was in-terpreted together with lithological data. Four significant layers of low (0.9-8.1 Ωm), moderate (22.4-125 Ωm), and high 68-177 Ωm) resistivity values were delineated suggestive of the different lithological formations. The subsurface profile mapping using ground magentotelluric methods did not suggest groundwater accumulations below 50 m, instead supported shallow groundwater potentials boreholes. These results have provided a double layer aquifer system thereby suggesting that recharge estimation need to be carried out in two different aquifer systems to enhance water allocation plans, and water monitoring in groundwater-dependent areas similar to prevailing conditions in the current study area.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of global patent trends in battery recycling, focusing on secondary batteries and related technologies across Korea, China, and the United States. The data, collected from various patent databases, was quantitatively analyzed to identify technology trends and direct future development. The analysis reveals distinct emphases on technologies such as lithium-ion and waste battery recycling, highlighting notable differences in patent activities among key companies and countries. China's large number of patents in battery manufacturing processes contrasts with the USA's focus on electrochemical cell construction and storage systems, while Korea shows significant activity in waste battery technology. The study underscores the competitive landscape and innovation efforts in the battery recycling sector, providing insights into the technological focuses and priorities of each country. It also identifies key challenges, such as the need for consistent innovation and broader geographic coverage in Korea, enhancing patent influence and international presence in China, and ensuring high patent quality and fostering innovation in lagging sectors in the United States. Addressing these challenges through enhanced collaboration, increased R&D investments, and supportive policies is crucial for strengthening the global position and driving further innovation in the battery recycling sector.

Human beings naturally move from one location to another in search of basic necessities. Road transportation is a low-cost, versatile, and widely accessible mode of transportation worldwide. However, using fossil-based (FB) fuels in transportation vehicles is inefficient, generates hazardous gases, and worsens environmental degradation. The current work assesses the application of clean fuels such as biofuels, natural gas, electricity, propane, and other emerging fuels to replace FB fuels in transport vehicles. Unlike FB fuels, the use of biohydrogen, biomethane, biodiesel, and bioethanol in transport vehicles resulted in emission reduction by 70 %, 63 %, 41 %, and 54 %, respectively, while electric vehicles lower maintenance costs, ensuring better engine performance, and better engine efficiency. The adoption of natural gas and propane as alternative fuels for transport vehicles is cost-effective, and promotes environmental sustainability. There is a need for targeted financial, infrastructural, and technical investments to further promote the application of these clean fuels for road transport application. The outcome of the study provides updated information and sensitizes automobile engineers, environmentalists, transport fleet operators, governments, and other stakeholders on the benefits derivable in the adoption of clean fuels as alternatives to FB fuels as transport vehicles fuel.

This paper investigates the polarization and heat generation characteristics of batteries under different ambient temperatures and discharge rates by means of using a coupled electric-thermal model. The study found that the largest percentage of polarization is ohmic polarization, followed by concentration polarization and electrochemical polarization. The values of the three types of polarization are generally small and stable under normal-temperature environments and low-discharge rates. However, they increase significantly in low-temperature environments and high-discharge rates and continue to rise during the discharge process. Additionally, ohmic heat generation and polarization generation also increase significantly under these conditions. Reversible entropy heat is less sensitive to ambient temperature but increases significantly with the increase of the discharge rate. Ohmic heat generation and polarization heat generation contribute to the total heat generation of the battery at any ambient temperature, while reversible entropy heat only contributes to the total heat generation of the battery at the end of discharge.

In order to improve the charge collection efficiency, we simulated and experimentally tested the doping structure of the electron multiplication layer in EBCMOS. In this paper, we simulate the charge collection efficiency of EBCMOS under different doping methods by modeling the collisional scattering of electrons with solid atoms in semiconductor materials and combining the transport trajectories of electrons in the electron multiplication layer, the simulation results indicate that using a layered doping structure to reduce the thickness of the index heavily doped layer can effectively optimize the electric field distribution in the electron multiplier layer and reduce the recombination rate of electrons. The optimized doping structure has a significant effect on improving charge collection efficiency. Based on the simulation results, doped samples were prepared and tested. The test results showed that the charge collection efficiency obtained under the condition of a P-type silicon substrate thickness of 7μm and an index heavily doped layer thickness of 1μm was 72.65%, reducing the thickness of the index heavily doped layer to 0.1μm, the charge collection efficiency obtained can reach 86.27%, which proves that reducing the thickness of the index heavily doped layer can effectively improve the charge collection efficiency of EBCMOS devices.

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck cancer; however, CRT may cause post-treatment dysphagia. Transcutaneous electrical sensory stimulation (TESS), developed in recent years for swallowing rehabilitation, has been used at many medical facilities. Although TESS has been used for dysphagia in several fields, its safety and efficacy in patients with head and neck cancer remain to be clarified. Therefore, this study evaluated the safety of TESS in ten patients with head and neck cancers undergoing CRT. Swallowing rehabilitation intervention and TESS implementation were performed for all patients during CRT. Non-blood toxicity adverse events (AEs), such as dermatitis and mucositis, occurred during CRT; however, the severity was less than Grade 3. No patient experienced pain due to TESS. As survival time analysis using the Kaplan–Meier method for interferential current device implementation rates revealed a feasibility of 100% for up to 60 Gy and a feasibility of 78% for up to 70 Gy, it concludes that TESS was feasible until 70 Gy. This study confirmed the feasibility and safety of TESS in the head and neck region, even during CRT. Although the precise mechanism of TESS on dysphagia is not yet clear, its continued use has great potential for improving sensory disturbance.

With the increased liberation of trade and fierce competition in the automotive industry, Proton needs to embark on a strategic reform to survive and remain relevant in the challenging market. This case study aims to explain the effectiveness of the Post Geely acquisition's ten years master plan to enhance Proton's self-reliance and global competitiveness. This case suggests that while the company's ten-year Master Plan is holistic and shows positive results in the early years, there is a need for a new business strategy, given the challenges imposed by climate change's impact on the automotive industry moving forward. The potentials of the Electric Vehicles (EVs) market and the Internet of Things (IoT) to develop the necessary long-term competitive advantage. A market strategy integrating the 4Ps and 4Cs framework suggests a two-dimensional convergence of the market mix, incorporating the organization's market strategy with a more consumer expectations-centric and user experience. Strategic integration of Geely's technological assets in developing Proton's technical know-how can address Proton's challenges and opportunities ahead.

Background: Some studies have shown that an increase in visceral fat is associated with postoperative clinical and oncologic outcomes. However, no studies have used bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to determine the effects of visceral fat on the oncologic outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between visceral fat area (VFA) and clinical, and oncologic outcomes in CRC. Methods: This study included 203 patients who underwent anthropometric measurements by BIA before surgical treatment for CRC between January 2016 and June 2020. Results: According to the cutoff level of VFA by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, 85 (40.5%) patients had a low VFA, and 119 (59.5%) had a high VFA. Multivariate analysis found that preoperative CRP (hazard ratio [HR], 3.882; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001–15.051; p=0.050) and nodal stage (HR, 7.996; 95% CI, 1.414–45.209; p=0.019) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival, while sex (HR, 0.110; 95% CI, 0.013–0.905; p=0.040), lymphovascular invasion (HR, 3.560; 95% CI, 1.098–11.544; p=0.034), and VFA (HR, 4.263; 95% CI, 1.280–14.196; p=0.040) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS). Conclusion: High VFA preoperatively measured by BIA was associated with inflammations and was an independent prognostic factor for DFS.

Aircraft emissions represent a relevant amount of human induced CO2. Globally, up to 2.5 per cent of such emissions stem from the aviation industry. In order to investigate the effects within the atmosphere, realistic flight profiles are necessary to provide quantitatively tangible values of emissions. The flight profiles and the according fuel consumption can be calculated by using waypoints from flight plans and Base of Aircraft Data (BADA). This paper presents an approach to refine the fuel consumption by integrating the passenger load into the calculation. Since effects of emissions have to be assessed on a greater scale, such as on the European air traffic network, the presented approach provides cost functions for CO2 emissions for different aircraft types and load factors. The cost functions were derived by means of regression analyses of BADA based calculated flight profiles with a step size of one second. The calculations are based on real historic traffic scenarios of several days. The derived aircraft specific fuel burn coefficients enable a simple and efficient integration of CO2 estimations depending on the flight distance, load factor and aircraft type. This can be applied to large traffic scenarios to also study different set-ups such as travel restrictions, other disruptions or an alteration in the traffic system as a whole. In order to enable the assessment of further aspects of such changes to the European air traffic system at large and to foster reproducibility and comparability of related studies, we provide further general-purpose cost estimation functions for several important key characteristics. Besides fuel consumption, we develop cost estimations for air navigation fees and maintenance for conventional aircraft. Those functions are also provided for the design concept of a short-range all-electric aircraft. This propeller aircraft features game-changing technologies such as active laminar flow control, active load alleviation and advanced materials and structure concepts. The approaches discussed in this paper will focus on the generic aspects of aircraft related costs, which can be derived from general available data. For the sake of reproducibility, the results will be made publicly available.

Energy efficiency and leakage magnetic field (LMF) are two important issues in electric vehicle inductive chargers. In this work, the maximum achievable coil efficiency and the corresponding LMF strength are formulated as functions of hardware parameters, and figure of merits (FOM) are proposed for assessing the efficiency and LMF performance of the coil assembly pair. The impacts of the coil assemblies’ geometric parameters on both FOMs are examined with the aid of finite element analysis (FEA), and measures to improve the FOMs are extracted from FEA results. A coil assembly pair is manually optimized within given dimensional limits. Compared with the initial design, the optimized one achieves higher efficiency and lower LMF strength while consuming less copper. The performance improvement is verified by FEA results and experimental data measured on an 85 kHz electric vehicle inductive charger prototype. The key measures for coil assembly optimization are summarized.

Appling the controlling relative permittivity and permeability in the equations for the gravitational-magnetic-electric field interaction, a very large variation of the gravitational acceleration of the Earth by electric/magnetic field could be arrived at. This conclusion may be supported by some of the experiments for the gravitational effect of superconductivity.

Animal communication signals are regulated by multiple hormonal axes that ensure appropriate signal targeting, timing, and information content. The regulatory roles of steroid hormones and many peptide hormones are well understood and documented across a wide range of vertebrate taxa. Two recent studies have reported a novel function for leptin, a peptide hormone central to energy balance regulation: regulating communication signals of weakly electric fish and singing mice. With only limited evidence available at this time, a key question is just how widespread leptinergic regulation of communication signals is within and across taxa. A second important question is what features of communication signals are subject to leptinergic regulation. Here we consider the functional significance of leptinergic regulation of animal communication signals in the context of both direct and indirect signal metabolic costs. Direct costs arise from metabolic investment in signal production, while indirect costs arise from the predation and social conflict consequences of the signal’s information content. We propose a preliminary conceptual framework for predicting which species will exhibit leptinergic regulation of their communication signals and which signal features leptin will regulate. This framework suggests a number of directly testable predictions within and across taxa. Accounting for additional factors such as life history and reproductive strategies will likely require modification or elaboration of this model.

Electric mobility begins to enter East-African markets. This paper aims to investigate what policy level solutions and stakeholder constellations are established in the context of e-mobility in Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Kisumu and Nairobi and in which ways they attempt to tackle implementation of electric mobility solutions. The study employs two key methods including content analysis of policy and programmatic documents as well as interviews based on purposive sampling ap-proach with stakeholders involved in mobility transitions. The study findings point out that transport operators and their representative associations are less recognized as major players in the transition, far behind new e-mobility players (start-ups) and public authorities. The study further indicates that a set of financial and technical barriers persist such as high upfront invest-ment costs in vehicles and infrastructure, or anxieties regarding competitiveness with fossil fuel vehicles, that constrain the uptake of such private e-mobility initiatives. This study concludes by identifying current gaps that need to be tackled by policy makers and stakeholders in order to implement inclusive electric mobility in East-African cities, considering modalities that include transport providers and address their financial constraints.

A field theoretic representation of the classical partition function is derived for a system composed of a mixture of anisotropic and isotropic mobile charges that interact via long range Coulomb and short range nematic interactions. The field theory is then solved on a saddle-point approximation level, leading to a coupled system of Poisson-Boltzmann and Maier-Saupe equations. Explicit solutions are finally obtained for a calamitic counterion-only system in proximity of a charged planar wall. The nematic order parameter profile, the counterion density profile and the electrostatic potential profile are interpreted within the framework of a nematic-isotropic wetting phase with a Donnan potential difference.

Air conditioning system of electric vehicles has new change as the internal combustion engine is being replaced with electrified AC motor. With large amount of batteries installed at the bottom of frame, the conventional compressor which is belt-driven can be removed and another AC motor can play the role for air conditioning in electric vehicles. From this change, the system efficiency would be improved since it is possible to control the electrified compressor independently from traction system in contrast with the belt-driven compressor. As a result, by applying the electrified compressor for air conditioning system, the whole system can achieve better efficiency and longer driving distance, which is most important in electric vehicles. In this paper, 3-phase interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) was designed using lumped-parameter model and finite element method.

With a relatively small population, Russia accesses huge oil, natural gas, coal and uranium resources, and hosts advanced nuclear energy, oil and natural gas industries. However, the combined effect of today’s low cost electricity generation via photovoltaic modules, water and wind turbines and similarly low cost storage in Li-ion battery and solar hydrogen obtained via water electrolysis will have a profound impact on Russia’s energy and automotive industries.

This paper addresses the effects of electric power quality on robotics operation. A general overview is reported to highlight the main characteristics of electric power quality and their effects on a powered system by considering an end-users viewpoint. Then, authors outline the influence of voltage dip effects by focusing at robotic grasping applications. A specific case of study is reported as referring to LARM Hand IV, a three-fingers robotic hand, which has been designed and built at LARM in Cassino. A dedicated test rig has been settled up for generating predefined voltage dips. Experimental tests are carried out for evaluating the effects of different types of voltage dips on the grasping of objects.

Abstract: I present a generalization of quantum electrodynamics which includes Diracmagnetic monop oles and the Salam magnetic photon. This quantum electromagnetodynamics has many attractive features. (1) It explains the quantization of electric charge. (2) It describes symmetrized Maxwell equations. (3) It is manifestly covariant. (4) It describes local four-potentials. (5) It avoids the unphysical Dirac string. (6) It predicts a second kind of electromagnetic radiation which can be veried by a tabletop experiment. An eect of this radiation may have been observed by August Kundt in 1885. Furthermore I discuss a generalization of General Relativity which includes Cartan's torsion. I discuss the mathematical denition, concrete description, and physical meaning of Cartan's torsion. I argue that the electric-magnetic duality of quantum electromagnetodynamics is analogous to the spin-mass duality of Einstein-Cartan theory. A quantum version of this theory requires that the torsion tensor corresponds to a spin-3 boson called tordion which is shown to have a rest mass close to the Planck mass. Moreover I present an empirically satised fundamental equation of unied eld theory which includes the fundamental constants of electromagnetism and gravity. I conclude with the remark that the concepts presented here require neither Grand Unication nor supersymmetry.

The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate electrical treeing degradation for cable insulation. To effectively deal with the currently facing issues, I endeavor to find the most optimal methods by means of applying signal process. First, we made three type models of electrical tree for PD generation to show the distribution characteristics and applied voltage to acquire data by using a PD detecting system. These acquired data presented distribution and four 2D distributions. Hn(q), Hn(), Hqn(), and Hqmax() were derived from the distribution of partial discharge. From the analysis of these distributions, each PD model is proved to hold its unique characteristics and the results were then applied as basic specific qualities for insulation conditions. In order to recognize the progresses of an electrical tree, we proposed methods using scale parameter by means of Weibull distribution. We measured the time of tree propagation for 16 specimens of each model from initiation stage, middle stage, and breakdown respectively, using these breakdown data, we estimated the shape parameter, scale parameter and MTTF(Mean Time To Failure). The results of this study recognize the sources of PD by applying acquired data from PD signals to pre-acquired data. If the cause of PD is degradation, in other words, electrical tree, we can determine the replacement time of devices at the initiation stage of tree growth progress or no later than the middle stage and use it as a basic methods analysis diagnosis system. That is, pattern recognition and Weibull distribution can be employed to get the reliability of diagnosis.

The article presents a method of generating Key Performance Indicators related to electric motor energy efficiency on the basis of Big Data gathered and processed in frequency converter. The authors proved that using the proposed solution it is possible to specify the relation between the control mode of an electric drive and the control quality-energy consumption ratio in the start-up phase as well as in the steady operation with various mechanical loads. The tests were carried out on a stand equipped with two electric motors (one driving, the other used to apply the load by adjusting the parameters of the built-in brake). The measurements were made in two load cases, for motor control modes available in industrially applied frequency converters (scalar V/f, vector Voltage Flux Control without encoder, vector Voltage Flux Control with encoder, vector Current Flux Control and Vector Current Flux Control with torque control). During the experiments values of current intensities (active and output), the actual frequency value, IxT utilization factor, relative torque and the current rotational speed were measured and processed. Based on the data the level of the energy efficiency was determined for various control modes.

The object of study in the article is the auxiliary variable-frequency electric drive onboard of an AC electric locomotive, and more precisely, the structure and parameters of the control system of the active corrector of power factor (ACPF), which is part of the electric drive, as a unit that ensures electromagnetic compatibility of the electric drive with other equipment on board the electric locomotive and catenary and its energy efficiency. The topic of the article's research is the substantiation of the structure of the ACPF control system, the choice of types (transfer functions) of controllers and the calculation of their parameters. The research method chosen was the calculation of the transfer functions of the controllers of the cascaded loops control system, followed by computer simulation using the OrCAD software. The results of simulating a cascaded two loops control system of an ACPF with different types of controllers are presented and analytically compared. It is concluded that it is advisable to use a cascaded two loops control system, containing a voltage control loop and a current control loop. The best results show the simulation when using an aperiodic current controller (A-controller) and a proportional-integral voltage controller (PI-controller). The data obtained serve as the basis for further improvement of the operation of the ACPF by enhancing and optimizing the settings, structure and algorithms of the control system, which, with the selected hardware of power converter unit, will allow the ACPF to perform its functions with a high degree of reliability in an entire range of disturbing and control influences.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of methods based on the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure Brake Cycle to measure brake wear particle emissions for currently used electrified vehicles. Our results indicated that reducing brake friction work reduced brake wear particle emissions. Commercially available, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles reduced emissions by 85% for PM₁₀, 78% for PM_2.5, and 87% for particle numbers (PNs) compared to vehicles with internal combustion engines. Brake friction work showed a linear relationship with PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Nanoparticle PM emissions tended to increase slightly with regenerative braking, but did not contribute significantly to the overall PM percentage. the emission events of high number concentrations of nuclei mode particles (<20 nm in diameter) in electric vehicle brake assemblies designed for regenerative braking use under high-temperature, high-load braking conditions with full-friction brakes. The nuclei mode particles amplified the PN emissions and led to a high variability. In strict regulatory certification tests, where measurement reproducibility and stability are required, it is appropriate to measure PNs under brake conditions appropriate for the actual use of electric vehicles rather than under full-friction brake conditions or to remove particle measurements smaller than 20 nm.

Today electricity is distributed to the individual users via physical Copper connections. From the power stations, the energy is transported through transmission lines where the electricity, sinusoidally modulated at a fixed frequency of about 50 Hz, is raised up to a voltage in a range approximately variating between 30, and 110 kV. When electrons, aligned at this voltage, pass through the transmission lines, they cause coherent vibrations, sometimes even audible in the acoustic frequencies. In the spectrum of movements to which electric cables are subjected, there are also unexpected and sporadic movements caused by winds and rain. The problem of carrying out persistent, precise and spatially distributed monitoring of transmission line health is to use a large number of sensors physically distributed everywhere and somehow transmit the results to a control station. The use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data could be a viable solution of persistent and wide-area high-voltage vibration monitoring. In this paper we produce a comprehensive survey on how to monitor both movements in terms of vibrational displacement, due to weathering, and those due to electricity transmission, normally fixed at about 50 Hz. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of an operational use of SAR for these purposes in the very short term. This would allow the possibility of monitoring malfunctions such as black-outs or other frequency anomalies.

This paper proposes a method of extracting energy from zero-point energy and evaluates the amount of energy gained. In addition, this electric circuit-based approach exhibits the Meissner effect, suggesting a new type of superconductivity that does not require refrigeration. The proposed method can provide extremely large amounts of energy, which is more than a conventional power station, without consuming fossil fuels or emitting radiation. Thus, it has the potential to solve the global energy problem. It involves preparing two electric loops containing diodes and connecting the loops together with current sources. The diodes are oriented in the same direction within each loop but in opposite directions in different loops. With this setup, the currents from the current sources build iteratively within the loops, resulting in large output currents. Our numerical analysis indicates that extremely large electric potentials are produced, which in turn yield large output currents. In addition, we confirm numerically that the voltage is zero around a loop and show analytically that the Meissner effect is present, proving the existence of a new type of superconductivity. Furthermore, when we introduce induction coils to not break the loop’s symmetry, they store extremely large amounts of energy and we can thus obtain energy from them via discharge currents.

The study presents a methodology, used in the design development of stepper motors. The methodology unites virtual and physical techniques to assess the structure under development at its various design stages. Virtual prototyping is used twice, at the concept and early design stages. Concept check aims to give more general directions for further design development, while the simulations at the detailed design stage allow assessing various design parameters at a high level of confidence. The testing of a physical prototype is used to validate simulation results. It is also used to check the design just before it's finished. The presented methodology is demonstrated in an industrial use case for stepper motor development for hydraulic valve application.

Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) are emerging as promising candidates for various applica-tions in robotics and optical devices due to their lightweight, miniaturization potential, high en-ergy density, simple structure, and low power consumption. However, their effective actuation always demands sophisticated high-voltage driving circuits that are compact and responsive. DEAs need to be capable of generating intricate high-voltage waveforms or simultaneously con-trolling multiple channels with distinct high-voltage levels. This paper proposes a high-voltage power supply for DEAs, featuring a four-channel high-voltage driving circuit. The circuit is ca-pable of independently generating high-voltage signals ranging from 100 V to 6000 V and can be programmed to produce arbitrary waveforms with adjustable frequencies. The independent op-eration of channels without crosstalk showcases the system's integration and potential for cross-disciplinary applications.

The wastewater problem is becoming an increasingly significant environmental issue affecting various aspects of human activities. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in water through certain physicochemical processes, which can oxidize or degrade various organic and chemical compounds, offers an effective purification method. The main advantage of these methods is the elimination of chemical reagents. Aim of this work is to investigate the possibility of regulating the ROS content in water by altering the characteristics of the plasma discharge that occurs under hydrodynamic cavitation in the water flow. ROS concentration was determined using the permanganate oxidation titration technique. It was found that the content of various reactive oxygen species in water after treatment can be controlled by varying the power of the electrical pulses applied. Additionally, the study obtained the dependence of ROS concentration in treated water samples on storage time, indicating a prolonged effect of sonoplasma treatment on the antibacterial properties of water. Analysis of water samples using a biological test culture of Salmonella typhimurium revealed bacteriostatic properties of the water for at least 48 hours after sonoplasma discharge treatment.

Decarbonization of air mobility requires the decarbonization of its energy. While biofuels will play an important role, other low carbon energy carriers based on electricity are considered: battery electrification, liquid hydrogen (LH₂) or eFuel, a hydrogen-based energy carrier. Each energy carrier has its own conversion steps and losses and its own integration effects with the aircraft. These combinations lead to different energy requirements and must be understood to compare their cost and CO₂ emissions. Since they are all electricity-based, this study compares these energy carriers using the well to rotor methodology when applied to a standard Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) air mobility mission. This novel approach allows one to understand that the choice of the energy carrier dictates the propulsive system architecture, leading to integration effects with the aircraft which can significantly change the energy required, from 400 to 2665 kWh for the same mission. These deviations lead significant differences in CO₂ emissions and costs. Battery electrification is impacted by the battery manufacturing but has the lowest electricity consumption. It is an optimum solution but only until the battery weight can be lifted. In all scenarios eFuel is more efficient than LH₂. We conclude that carrying the most efficient molecule in an aircraft pays the extra energy cost spent on the ground. Finally, we found that for each of these energy carriers, it is the electricity carbon intensity and price which will dictate the cost and CO₂ emissions of an air mobility mission.

In the last decade, with the increased concerns about the global environmental situation, attempts have been made to promote the replacement of fossil fuels with sustainable sources. For transport, which accounts for around a quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions, meeting climate neutrality goals will require replacing existing fleets with electric or hydrogen propelled vehicles. This research addresses the problem of transport fleet renewal by proposing a multi-criteria decision-making approach, taking into account the multiple propulsion technologies currently available and the objectives of the EU Green Deal, as well as the uncertainty related to the technological scenario, in a generalized Life Cycle framework. The proposed approach, based on the TOPSIS model, demonstrates how the optimality of the choice is related to the different technological scenarios and to the risky attitude of the decision maker. The proposed methodology is finally validated against a practical case referred the strategic fleet renewal decision process, and the results obtained demonstrate how the decision maker’s perception about the technological evolution of the propulsion technologies influences the decision process, thus leading to different optimal choices.

In the tissue regeneration field, stem cell transplantation and the control of their differentiation represent a promising therapeutic strategy. The second aspect can be achieved using electrical stimulation. This study aims to characterize the effect of a microsecond electrical stimulation on MSCs and iNSCs, in the context of the RISEUP FET-OPEN project (n. 964562) that seeks to control these cells differentiation for the spinal cord injury treatments. Here, the effect of a specific microsecond electric pulses stimulation, characterized by bipolar pulses of 100 µs + 100 µs, delivered for 30 minutes at an intensity of 250 V/cm, on i) cell proliferation, ii) cell cycle, iii) gene expression and iv) apoptosis was evaluated. Results show that the stimulation does not affect cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis, but induced some variations in gene expression, in particular in EGR1, FOS, and POU5F1. These ob-servations led us to deeply investigate the cell proliferation until 72h from the stimulation observing an increase in the iNSCs. The main outcome of this study is that the chosen stimulation protocol is safe and not toxic for MSCs and iNSCs. The observed variations in the gene expression need to be deeply investigated to assess the molecular mechanisms involved.

The plastic deformation behavior of 3Y-TZP with weak electric current in oxygen-lean atmosphere was investigated. An electrochemical reduction reaction, induced by the electric current, can significantly promote the plastic deformation of 3Y-TZP at furnace temperature of 1200 °C and a strain rate of 6.67 × 10−4 s−1. Especially, a remarkable variation of the electrical property and grain growth were observed in 3Y-TZP during the deformation. The stress exponent ranging within 2~3 indicated that the deformation was dominated by grain boundary sliding. The applied electric current decreased the apparent activation energy Q of the deformation from 465 kJ mol-1 to 315 kJ mol-1, resulting in a transition of the diffusion mechanism from the lattice diffusion to the grain boundary diffusion. These phenomena were mainly attributed to the enhancement of the cation diffusion caused by the electrochemical reduction reaction, which induced by the electric current in oxygen-lean atmosphere.