Browse Topic: Environmental protection
Though the U.S. EPA has rolled back many emissions regulations surrounding the mobility industry, its HD rules remain intact, meaning manufacturers must hit the world's most stringent NOx requirement. It was clear at a panel of industry experts that the new rule was still causing confusion among operators and fleet owners. The EPA's new limits are set at 0.035 grams per horsepower-hour during normal operation, 0.050 grams at low load and 10.0 grams at idle. A panel immediately following revealed how companies have hit the tough target, which goes into effect in January of 2027.
Bird accidental collision with overhead transmission lines poses a threat to the ecology of rare bird populations. This article analyzes the warning measures to prevent birds from accidental collisions at home and abroad. In response to the low efficiency of manual installation and the poor static warning effect in preventing birds from accidental collisions with overhead transmission lines, the visual characteristics of birds are analyzed. A drone-based automatic installation flash-type bird accidental collision warning device is proposed, which includes a fixture, a disc, and a luminous circuit. The fixture can be carried and installed on the overhead line by a drone and can be easily disassembled. The disc adopts eye-catching colors and has a hollow structure to reduce wind resistance load. The luminous circuit includes solar panels, charge and discharge control circuits, flicker control circuits, batteries, and luminous components. The drone suspension warning device test was conducted, and the results showed that the device can be easily suspended from the overhead line by the drone.
Stricter environmental legislation is driving ever-more-demanding performance targets for gasoline particulate filters (GPFs). This study constructs a multi-scale filtration model based on fractal characteristics, taking into account particle size distribution and particle deposition, to investigate the influence of the microstructure of porous media on GPF performance and analyze the impact of structural parameters on capture efficiency and pressure drop. The results show that: (1) Increasing the wall thickness can improve the capture efficiency and pressure drop, and a thicker wall has a stronger inertial interception capacity for larger particles. (2) A reduction in porosity markedly alters both filtration efficacy and flow pressure drop. For particles in the intermediate size range (0.1-0.5 μm), the capture efficiency of a low-porosity structure is more sensitive to the diffusion deposition of small particles, while the inertial collision efficiency of large particles is higher. (3) Shrinking the pore size markedly enhances capture efficiency while simultaneously increasing pressure drop; the finer pore network markedly improves the retention of sub-micron particles, but the passage restriction of large particles is more obvious.
This paper presents the emissions development of a heavy-duty hydrogen internal-combustion engine (H₂ICE) targeting ultra-low NOx with a design goal of 20 mg/hp-hr. The approach integrates advanced thermal management of the engine and aftertreatment, including engine out NOx management through air-fuel ratio controls and an electric heater to accelerate catalyst light-off and sustain activity at low-load/idle conditions. A diesel-derived aftertreatment system (ATS) is selected to maximize practicality and component commonality, and an integrated controls strategy spanning the engine and ATS is implemented to demonstrate ultra-low NOx capability over EPA certification cycles. The paper concludes with considerations for periodic SCR regeneration to ensure emission compliance.
As part of the decarbonisation process for passenger car fleet in Austria, battery electric cars in particular have been subsidised in recent years, as these vehicles are considered to be largely emission free during use and are expected to reduce emissions in future. However, in order to sustainably reduce the global greenhouse gas emissions of Austrian passenger car traffic, taking into account all types of fuel systems, it is necessary to apply a cradle-to-grave approach, as is commonly done in comparable analyses in the literature, which evaluates the emissions of the entire vehicle life cycle. The most important phase in the life cycle assessment remains the well-to-wheel phase, which includes emissions from energy supply and vehicle use. Due to the large number of influencing factors, highly simplified models are usually used for this phase in the literature. As part of this work, a methodology was developed that, allows an in-depth analysis of entire vehicle fleets by linking real vehicle movements with emissions data and energy consumption. By using real vehicle movements, environmental conditions (ambient temperature, etc.) and traffic situations (traffic jams, etc.) can be integrated into the emissions assessment. To capture the influencing factors more realistically, the assessment is performed at hourly rather than annual time intervals, unlike most previous studies. This new approach provides therefore a more detailed and realistic cradle-to-grave analysis of the Austrian passenger car fleet, making it possible to test individual measures in future scenarios and to define a coordinated strategy for minimizing the fleet’s future global greenhouse gas emissions.
This research paper offers a comprehensive evaluation of lithium-ion battery recycling methods, tracing the entire journey from global demand to the practical challenges and solutions for sustainable battery recycling. It starts with the analysis of worldwide LIB demand growth alongside the exponential growth in volumes of spent batteries and recycling rates. The study focuses on the imbalance in production and recovery of critical battery components and its environmental and economic effects. The paper then systematically examines six major recycling methodologies: mechanical, pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, biotechnological, direct, and ion-exchange recycling. It goes into detail about their advantages, limitations, and roles in maximizing the recovery of valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Traditional techniques like hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods, and emerging approaches including bioleaching and ion-exchange, are evaluated for their technical effectiveness and sustainability. Utilizing a multi-criteria decision analysis framework, the study compares these recycling methods across technical, environmental, and economic factors. The role of cutting-edge technologies, including automation and artificial intelligence, is also explored and discussed for their potential to optimize recycling processes, reduce chemical waste, and scale operations to meet escalating global demand. Pushing the transition toward circular economy models and closed-loop systems, this paper underscores the importance of emerging recycling solutions to preserve finite resources and build a resilient and sustainable LIB supply chain. The strategic recommendations are provided with the aim to guide industries and policymakers toward efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible battery recycling technologies, which are critical for supporting the clean energy transition and future technological growth.
This study explores the application of reverse engineering (RE) and digital twin (DT) technology in the design and optimization of advanced powertrain systems. Traditional approaches to powertrain development often rely on legacy designs with limited adaptability to modern efficiency and emission standards. In this work, we present a methodology combining 3D scanning, computational modeling, and machine learning to reconstruct, analyze, and enhance internal combustion engines (ICEs) and electric vehicle (EV) drivetrains. By digitizing physical components through RE, we generate high-fidelity DT models that enable virtual testing, performance prediction, and iterative improvement without costly physical prototyping. Key innovations include a novel mesh refinement technique for scanned geometries and a hybrid simulation framework integrating finite element analysis (FEA) and multi-body dynamics (MBD). Our case study demonstrates a 12% increase in thermal efficiency for a retrofitted ICE and a 15% weight reduction in an EV motor housing through topology optimization. The proposed approach not only accelerates R&D cycles but also supports circular economy principles by facilitating the remanufacturing of legacy components. This work contributes to the ongoing shift toward sustainable mobility by bridging the gap between legacy engineering and next-generation powertrain innovation.
The rising importance of sustainability in the automotive sector has led to increased interest in circular and environmentally responsible materials, particularly for plastic trims parts, both interior and exterior. This study focuses on developing textile solutions using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) sourced from post-consumer plastic waste, along with bio-based fibres such as bamboo. These materials made into woven and knitted fabrics are studied to suit different vehicle interior applications. r-PET textiles show promising strength, aesthetic appeal, and durability performance. Bamboo fabrics are known for their natural antimicrobial properties and enhanced breathability. Extensive testing is performed to validate explored sustainable materials performance against key automotive requirements. With this study, we gain an understanding of the performance of variedly sourced sustainable raw materials for automotive specific textile applications by different manufacturing methods.
The purpose of this research is to examine the fundamental principles of a circular economy (CE) in relation to the automotive industry in India, which plays a vital role in the country's economy. As a result, energy consumption and environmental impacts also pose significant challenges. CE provide a transformative approach through the life cycle of a vehicle, guiding the automotive industry toward a more sustainable transportation system. In order to decarbonize this industry, the global automotive commission recommends that recycled plastic content in vehicles be increased to 20-25% by 2030. This target necessitates the recovery of plastics from end-of-life vehicles, though these materials are rarely integrated into compounds today. The automotive industry's reliance on plastics has grown substantially due to their lightweight properties, which enhance fuel efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions, and improve versatility and mechanical performance. polypropylene polymer and several other polyolefins are used for components like bumpers. The most prevalent recycling method for polypropylene bumpers is mechanical recycling, yet it presents notable challenges. It is important to note that paint, in particular, affects both the aesthetic quality and the structural integrity of recycled materials. This review work also explores the primary recycling methods documented in literature, particularly those that have minimal environmental impact. Further, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of India's transition toward sustainability in the automotive sector, including procedures for waste disposal and reuse. The report emphasizes the industry's growing pressure to adopt circular and sustainable approaches in production, vehicle design, and waste management while emphasizing the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste.
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have consolidated their place in the technology market for the energetic transition, with global manufacturing capacity exceeding 1 TWh in recent years and costs falling in this competitive environment. At the same time, the number of end-of-life LIBs is increasing, stimulating the recycling industry to process battery streams, thus promoting the circular economy to meet the increased demand for strategic raw materials and decarbonization. Vehicle electrification is the main driver of battery production, but their end-of-life will take some time to be significant in volume in the next years. Consumer electronics such as smartphones, laptops and power tools are now available at an appropriate volume enabling the preparation of recycling industry for the moment. In this scenario, recyclers are looking for sustainable routes to absorb all these streams and the different LIBs chemistries (LFP, NCA, NMC, LCO, LMO) to recover the critical metals (Ni, Co, Cu, Mn and Li). Faced with these problems, Tupy in an Embrapii project with Tecnogreen LAREX at USP has developed a recycling route for EV batteries that extends its feed to electronic batteries in a flexible hydrometallurgical process. This work presents the results of this process, which includes the semi-pilot scale of 20kg LIBs obtained from electronics. Critical metals recovery efficiency was 71% of cell weight, leading for 83% of Co, 93% of Cu, 86% of Ni and 89% of Li. Such initial results exceed the Cu, Ni and Li efficiencies required by the European Union at the end of 2027.
In response to increasing environmental awareness and the automotive industry's push for sustainability, the development of lightweight and robust components has become a key area of focus. This paper presents a multidisciplinary approach to the design and optimization of an aluminum parking brake lever, leveraging advanced structural optimization techniques to enhance performance while meeting stringent environmental standards. Traditional manufacturing processes for automotive components, such as stamping, often rely on steel due to its strength and ease of processing. However, the high density of steel can significantly impact the overall weight of the vehicle, leading to increased fuel consumption and emissions. In contrast, aluminum’s superior strength-to-weight ratio offers a promising alternative. This study employs Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to model the initial stress history of the lever, followed by the application of structural optimization tools to refine its geometry for weight reduction and performance enhancement. The optimization process focuses on maintaining or improving the structural integrity of the component while achieving significant reductions in weight. By integrating Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools, the study demonstrates how a multidisciplinary approach can lead to innovative solutions that align with both performance requirements and sustainability goals. The results highlight that the use of aluminum, in conjunction with optimization methods, leads to a considerable weight reduction compared to the traditional steel design, while maintaining the necessary robustness for automotive applications. The study not only provides insights into material substitution but also emphasizes the role of structural optimization in modern automotive engineering, contributing to more sustainable manufacturing practices.
Items per page:
50
1 – 50 of 1691