The benefits of green horizontal networks: Lessons learned from sharing charging infrastructure for electric freight vehicles

Abstract

Regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of passenger vehicles are becoming increasingly stringent. The aerodynamic drag is a major contributor to the vehicle's total energy consumption where a large portion is attributed to the base wake. This paper optimises the angles of small trailing edge flaps on a base cavity of a full-scale sports utility vehicle placed in a wind tunnel. The trailing edge flaps are controlled using servos mounted inside the cavity. The flap angles are optimised using a surrogate model based optimisation algorithm with the objective of reducing the aerodynamic drag at different yaw angles and to create a yaw-insensitive geometry by considering several weighted yaw angles to form the driving cycle averaged drag. Low drag designs are further investigated using base pressures and wake measurements. The results show that the base pressures are symmetrised by reducing the crossflow in the wake. As the model is yawed the wake becomes increasingly downwash dominated by a large rotating windward structure which is reduced by the optimised flaps. The cycle averaged drag optimised design has a smaller increase in drag when yawed compared to a design optimised without considering yaw.

Why companies team up for sustainable development: Antecedents of company engagement in business partnerships for sustainability

“…Third, we found industry collaboration to be a relevant motivation factor for companies to engage in sustainability partnerships, particularly in the context of tackling a problem affecting all partners or working toward a common goal. While an emerging body of research discussing collaboration and coopetition exists (Christ et al, 2017; Hofman et al, 2020; Manzhynski & Figge, 2020; Melander & Wallström, 2022; Stål et al, 2023), further research is necessary to understand the nuances of sharing knowledge in a sustainability partnership while preserving the company's competitiveness. To provide an example, the number of partners involved in a sustainability partnership may change collaborative versus competitive dynamics within said partnership.…”

Exploring potential diffusion pathways of biorefinery innovations—An agent‐based simulation approach for facilitating shared value creation

“…The crucial importance of collaboration has also been highlighted by many management studies on cross-sectoral value creation, networks, business ecosystems, and open innovations. Melander and Wallström (2022), for example, highlighted the importance of horizontal collaboration in finding innovative, more environmentally friendly solutions.…”

“…However, developing novel products is rarely possible unless a collaborative effort is made by companies with other firms and societal actors, such as citizens, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), and governments (Jonker & Faber, 2019; Pedersen et al, 2021; Planko & Cramer, 2021). The importance of establishing shared value creation, inter‐organizational networks, and collaborative business models in the development and diffusion of new products in rapidly changing business environments has been highlighted by numerous studies, in particular by sustainability‐focused business model, value creation, and network management studies (e.g., Aarikka‐Stenroos et al, 2014; DiVito et al, 2021; Evans et al, 2017; Freudenreich et al, 2020; Hörisch et al, 2014; Jonker & Faber, 2019; Melander & Wallström, 2022; Möller & Svahn, 2009). In addition, open innovation approaches, based on the idea that collaboration and the sharing of knowledge among diverse stakeholders is advantageous for all actors involved (Chesbrough, 2003), have been found to support shared value creation and the promotion of sustainability (Camilleri et al, 2023, see also Del Rıo et al, 2015; Melander & Pazirandeh, 2019).…”

A Comprehensive Review on Smart Electromobility Charging Infrastructure

“…The number of charging outlets and high-speed charging infrastructures is insufficient to meet the demand for charging EVs [3]. The lack of infrastructure hinders the expansion and adoption of EVs, as potential users are deterred by the limited availability of charging stations [4]. Therefore, an expanded charging infrastructure network supporting electromobility's widespread adoption must be incorporated into national developments.…”

“…Sharing infrastructure for charging has been recognised as a beneficial approach to accelerate the expansion of the market for electromobility charging infrastructure [4,10]. By sharing charging infrastructure, the environmental benefits of electromobility can be maximised, and the costs linked with establishing and maintaining charging stations can be shared among multiple users [11].…”