| Title |
Using Driving-Cycle Data to Retrofit and Electrify Sub-Saharan Africa's Existing Minibus Taxis for a Circular Economy |
| ID_Doc |
22009 |
| Authors |
Lacock, S; du Plessis, AA; Booysen, MJ |
| Title |
Using Driving-Cycle Data to Retrofit and Electrify Sub-Saharan Africa's Existing Minibus Taxis for a Circular Economy |
| Year |
2023 |
| Published |
World Electric Vehicle Journal, 14.0, 10 |
| DOI |
10.3390/wevj14100296 |
| Abstract |
The nascent electrification of transport has heralded a new chapter in the driving force of mobility. Developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa already lag in this transformative transport transition. A potential transitional step towards full-scale electric mobility is the retrofitting of the existing fleet of internal combustion-based vehicles. This paper proposes a novel approach to the design of a retrofit electric drivetrain for an internal combustion engine vehicle. Specifically, a minibus taxi, which dominates the region's informal paratransit industry, is electrified. This retrofit is the first formal research presented with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and its unique challenges. A generic methodology is presented to systematically specify and select drivetrain components and assess the suitability and characteristics of those components. Unique about the presented methodology is the application of driving-cycle data of internal combustion engine vehicles, which provides quantitative insights into the performance and characteristics of the selected components for a retrofit. Finally, a real-world use case is presented to provide a tangible example and to validate the feasibility of the presented approach. |
| Author Keywords |
electric vehicle; electric retrofit; drive-cycle data; motor efficiency; drivetrain model |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) |
| EID |
WOS:001089387600001 |
| WoS Category |
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic; Transportation Science & Technology |
| Research Area |
Engineering; Transportation |
| PDF |
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