A universal mass-based index defining energy efficiency of different modes of passenger transport
Autor: | Jianguo Lin, Jing-Hua Zheng, Julian M. Allwood, Trevor A. Dean |
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Přispěvatelé: | Allwood, Julian M. [0000-0003-0931-3831], Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository |
Rok vydání: | 2021 |
Předmět: |
Technology
Index (economics) Materials science Energy consumption Gauge (firearms) Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Automotive engineering 4016 Materials Engineering Reduction (complexity) Energy efficiency Mechanics of Materials Vehicle mass index Passenger transport Carrying capacity General Materials Science 7 Affordable and Clean Energy Obesity Sensitivity (electronics) Energy (signal processing) Normalized weight Efficient energy use 40 Engineering Nutrition |
Zdroj: | International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture, Vol 4, Iss 4, Pp 423-433 (2021) |
Popis: | Reduction in vehicle weight can significantly reduce energy use in human transportation. However, to gauge efficiency, energy use and weight for a particular vehicle should be related to the number of people being transported while currently there is no convenient means to assess this. Here we statistically analyse the weight, energy consumption, carrying capacity and occupancy level for automobiles, buses, high-speed trains and aircraft. Based on the analysis and inspired by the medical body mass index (BMI), we have proposed a vehicle mass index (VMI), defined as I = A ( W t v W t p ) n , for the first time enables energy efficiency assessment of different transportations on a global scale, where n a weight sensitivity parameter and A the energy efficiency constant of a theoretically weightless vehicle. We show the VMI ranges and conclude the significant vehicle weight reduction windows to achieve their index lower limits. The possible limits for the VMI and the associated A and n values are also assessed. The concept of VMI could form the basis of a worldwide standard, useful in the current drive for a greener economy. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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