ENGL 303-005: Technical Writing
Feasibility Study on Solutions to efficiently power an electrical vehicle
Abstract
“Feasibility Study on Solutions to Efficiently Power and Charge Electrical Vehicles”
The future of electric vehicles needs to shift toward the use of solar charging stations which can increase the feasibility of electric vehicles outside of urban areas. The solar powered charging stations can revolutionize the way the world views vehicles powered by renewable energy sources. These solar stations can be placed in rural areas which can allow the drivers to store and charge their vehicle, which will minimize the prevalence of vehicles being stranded without access to power.
There are three types of electrical vehicle systems, which include the electric train systems, plug in powered vehicles, and those powered by onboard electric generators or fuel cells. It has been argued solar-powered charging stations may significantly weaken the influence of EV charging on the local grid, but charging these stations with solar power will solve the issue related to the overload of the basic electric grids. The charging stations need to run on solar power, in order to make the change from fossil fuels to removable energy more affordable for smaller communities. This should include public charging stations located strategically around the community, including the schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and places of business and worship. These charging stations will give individuals and communities the ability to commit to electric vehicles and the positive impacts of their use.
Keywords: Solar power charging stations, electric vehicles, pn-junction structures
Abstract iii
List of Illustrations v
List of Symbols vi
Executive Summary 1
Introduction 2
Causal Analysis 2
Scope 4
Context of Research 5
Available Solutions 5
Alternative Solutions 6
Conclusions 7
Methods 8
Results 15
Conclusion 18
3D Stem Cells 18
Xenotransplantation 18
Tissue Engineering 18
Mechanical Organs 19
Recommendation 20
Glossary 21
References 22
Ajrgf erogj 8
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
The Umbrella Corporation has prided itself on their business involving life itself, which has historically incorporated the advancement and development of technology, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and hosting solutions. In the modern world, energy is needed for just about every aspect of life, which explains why it is so important for the communities of the world to come together to implement and utilize as many renewable energy sources in order to minimize the negative effects of fossil fuels. Electric vehicles have been at the forefront of the evolution from fossil fuels, but electric vehicles still require electricity, which is provided by companies that still utilize fossil fuels for their primary energy sources.
The future of electric vehicles needs to shift toward the use of solar charging stations which can increase the feasibility of electric vehicles outside of urban areas. The solar powered charging stations can revolutionize the way the world views vehicles powered by renewable energy sources. These solar stations can be placed in rural areas which can allow the drivers to store and charge their vehicle, which will minimize the prevalence of vehicles being stranded without access to power.
At the same time, there should also be a consideration to have the vehicles run off of solar power altogether, which can allow the vehicle to charge as it is being used. This alternative should be considered, especially if it is able to increase the power and speed associated with electric vehicles. If the power and speed is not increased, it is unlikely people will be willing to switch away from fossil fuels any time soon.
Introduction
Vehicles are an essential component of the modern life as they provide us transportation from one place to another. However, motor vehicles have a negative impact on both the environment and the economy. The environmental impact of vehicles originates from the combustion of fossil fuels in internal combustion engines. Fossil fuels are essentially hydrocarbons, which contain as the name says, high amounts of carbon and hydrogen. During combustion, the carbon-hydrogen chemical bonds decompose to form carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Also, impurities in fuel cause the release of other toxic gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide. These gases accumulate and form a blanket-like layer above the atmosphere. Radiation from the sun manages to penetrate the toxic gas layer to reach the earth’s surface. However, radiation reflected from the earth’s surface have a large wavelength and hence low amounts of energy. As a result, the reflected radiation is unable to penetrate gas layer and escape to space; leading to accumulation of heat in the atmosphere, otherwise referred to as global warming. Furthermore, from an economic aspect, overdependence on fossil fuels has a huge impact on global economies due to oil’s high correlation with the cost of living.
Also, electric cars can be categorized based on the type of battery used, such as a lead-acid battery or a fuel cell. Finally, electric vehicles can be classified according to the type of motor used, either an alternating current motor or a direct current motor (Hamilton par.4). The following report covers an introduction to the problem, our research methods, the results found, our conclusions along with our recommendation to the company. Now is the time for Umbrella Corporation to establish itself as a leading force in this new field of opportunity. With the support of Umbrella Corporation, a widely accepted solution can be established, many lives can be saved, and profitability can be achieved.
Causal AnalysisAs the world becomes more developed, more vehicles will continue to be manufactured. Therefore, more amounts of greenhouse gases will be emitted. Global warming, which is characterized by rising global temperatures leads to the melting of polar ice, which further leads to rise in sea levels. Rising sea levels can displace communities living in coastal and regions that are below sea levels. Also, melting of polar ice can alter the flow of ocean currents that move from equatorial regions towards the pole (Causes of Climate Change par.5). Such change in current flow can lead to changes in weather patterns, which can be unfavorable for people who depend on farming. Also, toxic gases emitted from vehicles can accumulate in the atmosphere and cause chemical fogs, which cause respiratory diseases in human beings.
As previously mentioned, internal combustion engines produce toxics and greenhouse emissions. These emissions are partly due to unburned hydrocarbons, which lead to the formation of carbon monoxide and other byproducts of the combustion process. Fuel impurities constitute the toxic gases in engine emissions; such gases include nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and methane (Causes of Climate Change par.6). Also, internal combustion engines emit particulate matter, such as carbon particles or soot, which gets suspended in the atmosphere and can therefore be inhaled, creating a health hazard. Hydrocarbon emissions from internal combustion engines on the other hand include gases such as benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein, acetaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Greenhouse gases, up to a certain extent, are beneficial to the environment as they raise the earth’s temperature to a point where it can support life at around 15 degrees Celsius. However, increased accumulation of greenhouse gases raises the global temperatures to a point where they are no longer beneficial for the survival of earth as a planet (Hamilton par.5). The increased rise in the amount of greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere has led to a rise in global temperatures in the last 200 years as shown by figure 1 below.
Figure 1. The rise in global temperatures due to the presence of greenhouse gases.Source: Timeforchange.org, http://timeforchange.org/cause-and-effect-for-global-warming.
Since earth is not a perfect reflecting surface, some of the radiation energy is absorbed by the earth’s surface while only a small portion is reflected. The reduced energy in the reflected radiation results into higher wavelengths in the radiation. As a result, the radiation is trapped in the atmosphere by the layer of greenhouse gases in the upper levels of the atmosphere (A blanket around the Earth par.4). The trapped radiation is then emitted in various directions where it heats up the lower layers of the atmosphere and the earth’s surface as shown in figure 2 below.
Figure 2. An illustration of how global warming occurs due to presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.Source: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
Scope
As mentioned before, since the research is based on new technology and all-electric vehicles, which requires experts on the job and advanced infrastructure, this report will only focus on more developed countries. Many countries around the world cannot afford the feasibility of these vehicles yet. Some of the reasons are because supercharging stations would be expensive to build, along with the fact that these electric vehicles are not for off-road purposes and most undeveloped countries barely have perfectly flat roads. In addition, these vehicles require special maintenance that most undeveloped countries do not have, including the education for someone to work with them.
Context of Research
Available Solutions
Electric vehicles are currently the most efficient and environmentally-friendly replacement to the fossil-fuel-driven vehicles. These vehicles are primarily powered by rechargeable lead-acid batteries. The batteries are charged from electric outlets and they store electric energy through the means of reversible chemical reactions. The batteries contain an electrolyte, such as sulfuric acid, which ionizes to release electrons that run through an external electric circuit thereby generating an electric current. Pure electric vehicles are powered solely by a battery and driven by a motor. As such the battery in the vehicle have to have enough capacity to drive the vehicle for the required distance range. When the battery charge runs out, it has to be recharged again from an external power source. While pure electric vehicles normally have a 150 miles drive range, they do not burn any fossil fuel and therefore have zero emissions. Figure 3 below illutrates a simplified powertrain of an all-electric vehicle.
Figure 3. Power train of pure electric vehicle.Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/green/electric_vehicles/
However, pure electric vehicles face severe limitations and operational inefficiencies such as the limited mile range and dependence on the availability of charging stations. To counter these limitations, vehicle manufacturers developed the hybrid electric vehicles. Hybrid electric vehicles are driven by both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. A hybrid electric car can have the conventional engine as the primary power source and the electric motor as a backup. According to Halderman, the vehicle can be configured to run primarily on the electric motor and an internal combustion engine to complement it when the charge state runs low (19). Figure 4 below shows the power train of a hybrid electric vehicle.
Figure 4. The power train of an electric vehicle with both an internal combustion motor and an electric motor with a battery. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/green/electric_vehicles/
Hybrid electric vehicles are able to overcome the limitations faced by pure electric vehicles. This is because the engine in the vehicle is coupled to a generator that charges the battery while driving the vehicle at the same time. As such, the vehicle exhibits a longer mile range as the battery takes over when the fuel runs out (Hamilton par.6). Also, the vehicle can venture to areas without charging outlets as it can be fueled at traditional petrol stations. Finally, both types of electric vehicles benefit from a phenomenon referred to as regenerative braking. Regenerative braking, as the name states, converts kinetic energy lost by the vehicle during breaking to electric energy, which is then used in charging the battery to further increase the mileage range.
Limitations of electric vehicles in reducing global warmingElectric vehicles are designed to mitigate the greenhouse effects of fossil powered vehicles. However, the vehicles to do not completely eliminate the carbon footprint of the transportation industry. This is because the vehicles are charged using electric energy generated in power stations that burn fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, or diesel (Halderman 45). As such, the electric vehicles only eliminate the decentralised emissions from discharged from individual vehicles but increase the load on the power generating stations, which further raises their carbon footprint.
Alternative Solutions
Solar charging systems can be designed for private use whereby the solar panels are mounted on rooftops. Such systems are optimized to charge a single car overnight. Also, solar charging systems can be optimized for public use, for instance along highways and in public facilities such as colleges. Electric vehicle charging systems designed for public use are enhanced for high speed charging so that a high number of vehicles can be recharged within a short time. Figure 5 below shows the proposed design of a public solar electric vehicle charging station.
Figure 5. A public solar electrical vehicle charging station.Source: Solarchargeddriving.com, http://solarchargeddriving.com/2016/04/12/quebec-gets-new-solar-ev-charging-station/
Conclusion
The Automotive Division has researched the problem and available solutions to present the Umbrella Corporation the best solution. Electric vehicles offer a reasonable solution for the reduction of the carbon footprint of the transportation industry. However, most electric vehicles are charged using electricity generated in power plants that combust fossil fuels, which in a way contradicts emission reduction by electric vehicles. Solar charging stations offer a carbon neutral option for vehicle charging applications. The solar stations can be put up in homes, along highways, and on public facilities. The use of solar systems to charge electric vehicles could improve the efficiency of electric vehicles in mitigating the effects of greenhouse emissions emanating from the transport industry. The Automotive Division has also used this research and data to perform feasibility tests and criteria analyses. In the following sections, the methods used in evaluating some of these solutions will be discussed in further detail.
Methods
The research group of the Automotive Division had to complete a couple of tasks to determine which solution was the best. These tasks proceeded in an arrangement that would examine and provide data on every solution thoroughly. Below, these tasks are listed with their corresponding dates.
Figure 6. Schedule for the Project Plan
Additional research gathered from online articles, government works, journals, and news sources was compiled to allow the Automotive Division to fully understand the effectiveness of the available solutions.
Cutting edge technology improving ways to store electrical charges from the environment efficiently, along with advances in batteries and energy storage, must constantly be looked for due to the rapid advancement of this field. The Automotive Division will constantly search for innovative solutions to the problem at hand.
Important criteria for each solution had to be defined and labeled, because the criteria of the solutions need to be clarified to ensure the results will be relevant to determine the overall value of solar charging stations for electric vehicles. The criteria were gave a value for each given criteria of each solution to determine the importance of some criteria over the others through a rating system, in the form of a numerical scale. These criteria will be evaluated on a scale of one to five, with one being the lowest chance of the solution meeting the criteria, and five with the highest chance.
The data gathered from this criteria analysis was formatted and will be included later in the report. The criteria to be met are listed below
Public Acceptance
First of all, it is important to have the public’s approval to move forward with the technology and the cleaner renewable sources of energy. This is because the acceptance of the public plays a key role in the success of new technologies. The public’s opinion can either guarantee the success of the chosen solution or cause great financial loss. Better and more widespread public acceptance of a solution will prove most beneficial for any new market entry.
The problem is, in the past the maximum speed any of the electric vehicles could reach was only around twenty miles per hour. The first electric vehicle prototypes were developed in the 1820’s throughout various European laboratories, but it was not until the 20th century the use of electric railways and cars gained any popularity even being significantly slower than the vehicles running on gasoline.
Pass Legal Regulations
The increased concern for the effects of global warming or climate change, can be the reason for the popularity, because the drivers of these vehicles felt like it was their civic duty to the world to produce less emissions and lower their energy footprint as much as possible. Additionally, electric cars are significantly cleaner, quieter, and easier to drive, but the limited battery life made the use of a purely electric vehicle unlikely until after the turn of the 21st century.
Regulations also need to be in place to support the goal of solar charging stations so they eventually become just as common as gas stations. Regulation can also place additional pressure on to manufacturers to speed up the development of the technological advances needed. The vehicle manufactures may need some kind of financial incentive to ensure compliance without complaints.
Need of Advancement
Some technologies and fields of engineering, and science are more advanced than others. The amount of work that is required to advance a solution to its most useful potential adds its own costs, including time. The less advancement a solution needs to be capitalized on, the better. There has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of the use and application of components of electric vehicles which has been focused on improving the efficiency of the vehicles including miles driven on one charge, the power and associated optimal speed. In 2010, there was a 60% spike in the number of patents issued for the components of electric vehicles, and can be viewed as a dramatic increase since electric vehicles were developed over a half a century earlier than the first hydrocarbon vehicle. The limited battery life made it impossible for electric vehicles to be used outside of urban areas with public charging stations. This is why the Scalability and adaptability of the solution is also necessary. This allows the researchers to continue to improve the efficiency of electric vehicles and their charging methods, because as more people are charging vehicles, the faster it needs to be completed in public parking areas.
These criteria are crucial in the potential success of a solution. Each solution will be scored on a scale of one to five. A score of one will signify that a solution does not meet a criterion, a score of three will signify that a solution acceptably meets a criterion, and a score of five will signify that a solution is optimal for meeting a criterion. The public’s acceptance is the highest at a five, need of advancement is a four, and the legislation is a three.
There is also a criterion which needs to be determined based on the feasibility of a solution including the other forms of alternative energy. To determine the feasibility of each solution, important criteria were chosen and used to test each solution. Another rating system was used to determine if the criteria was met by each solution. This data was gathered, formatted, and included in the report. This criteria, will include availability of materials, cost, and access to professional staff. The necessary criteria for the feasibility test are listed below.
Availability of Materials
Availability of materials is crucial to the success of test or experiment. Materials do not only need to be available on a one time basis, but constant to replensish supplies as needed. If the necessary materials are difficult to acquire, it is most likely it is difficult to find the product within an acceptable cost
Cost
Costs make the difference between a experiement or product succeeding. The use of electric vehicles has been projected to reduce the dependency of foreign oil by 60% within the first decade of widespread use with support from the world’s governments. There are many who would negate this belief, but the increase in the number charging stations and the ability to harness solar power for this purpose can make the transition much simpler and more affordable.
Demand for Professional Staffing
With a field such as biotechnologies, many areas are cutting edge. It is important to consider the access to the professional staff needed to implement and maintain the charging stations for electric vehicles, regardless of the type of renewable energy used. A professional staff needs to be recruited with a considerable compensation package to make the decision to up and move a simple one.
The feasibility of these criteria allowed every solution to be tested. For each criteria, the solutions are given a score of zero for fail and a score of one for passing. Each solution was given a score of either “Pass” or “Fail” based on whether or not it met enough criteria to be feasible.
Results
After the previously listed tasks were completed, the data was compiled to accurately recommend the best solution to the Umbrella Corporation. Each task was necessary to reach a reliable conclusion. Below, the tasks with their results are listed in the order that they were performed.
Hydro power scores as a three because it would be convenient to any population with access to water. At the same time, this solution seems unfeasible because harnessing the power would still require traditional powering techniques. Wind power also scores a three because in certain communities the prevalence of the wind is significantly higher and would be an acceptable alternative for charging. Wind passes the feasibility test because it allows the versatile world’s population to store the power from wind and distribute through the electrical grid.
Solar power stations score a four, because every part of the world has daily contact with the sun, even when it is cloudy. Solar power would also pass the feasibility test because solar energy uses have been illustrated many times. The power from the sun can be harnessed and stored around the world. This is more feasible than the electrical charging of the past and present, and the two other renewable energy solutions.
There are three types of electrical vehicle systems, which include the electric train systems, plug in powered vehicles, and those powered by onboard electric generators or fuel cells. The electrical train systems have been used around the world. These systems power the trains directly through a power attachment, which can be found overhead or through underground wiring. This is a sensible way to power the trains, but there is a serious concern for the use of the general electric system can interfere with the productivity of the regular electric system.
Plug in vehicles are powered by electric stored from an external source, which is traditionally accessed through the wall sockets and rechargeable electric storage systems. This is the most common use of the technology and usually requires a minimum of six hours to completely charge. The same concern still applies here because it involves the energy source to come from the electrical system in place which can become a burden on the old electrical systems still in place around the world. The newest application for electric vehicles has onboard electric generators or fuel cells which can hold a longer charge.
Crucial energy production will eventually shifted to the various forms of alternative energy including wind, hydro, solar, and nuclear. It is clear how powerful nuclear energy is, but it seems more realistic to stick with the natural resources found on the plant.
Research has been conducted associated with the potential for solar cell characteristics to increase the potential of charge carriers needed for electric vehicles, because the driving forces of charge transport are associated with the gradient of electric and chemical potentials. This data gives researchers and businesses around the world the confidence to focus on the potential of the sun as the energy source necessary for the transition away from fossil fuels. This research also makes it clear the ability of a vehicle to run completely on solar power can be much closer than previously expected or anticipated.
The solar-cell deice simulation was conducted on two different pn-junction structures with the WXA MPS software, which is an update of the previous AMPS tool originally developed by Fonash. This update has allowed further possibilities to research the ideas of charge separation. The driving force pf charge separation is not related to the internal electric field, like previously believed, but in the gradient of the excess of the chemical potential, because it does not force changes in the existing formulae on solar cells. This can be viewed as a different view point or a more accurate understanding of the mechanisms related to charge separation to develop better solar cells.
It has been argued solar-powered charging stations may significantly weaken the influence of EV charging on the local grid, but charging these stations with solar power will solve the issue related to the overload of the basic electric grids. These ideas were tested in the Democratic of Congo, but it would make sense to test these uses in more densely populated developed nations like the United States and Canada. The isolated rural communities used would not be able to come close to the expectations of energy in the United States to make realistic comparisons of the results received.
Conclusion
In conclusion, two Quebec companies have agreed to take on the cost and development of the first solar carport in their area, after the successful implementation of similar carports throughout the United States and Ontario. These carports were developed to offer the various services associated with the fueling of electric and solar powered vehicles. Solar charging stations for electric vehicles have the most potential and likelihood of wide spread use and success among all of the other options available. Water and wind are valid options, but are limited with use depending on the specific region of the world.
Recommendations
The main goal of the increase of charging stations for electric vehicles is to make sure these vehicles can be used feasibly within rural communities. It is quite clear the use of solar power is significantly cheaper than the use of traditional electricity, so the charging stations need to run on solar power, in order to make the change from fossil fuels to removable energy more affordable for smaller communities. This should include public charging stations located strategically around the community, including the schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and places of business and worship. These charging stations will give individuals and communities the ability to commit to electric vehicles and the positive impacts of their use.
There can be connections for vehicles running on electricity or solar power. The solar powered vehicles would be able to pull into a vehicle stall and allow their vehicle to naturally absorb the available solar energy available. Those vehicles that require a plug can also be powered by solar energy with acceptable attachments to meet the various outlet possibilities. Similar attachments can be purchased for electric vehicle owners for their private residences to allow the use of solar power to charge the vehicle.
This can be achieved through the use of Tesla Power wall balloon, which create a backup system in the case of power failure for any particular reason, which would be able to ensure the vehicles continue to charge without disruption to the process. This will raise the confidence of the electric or solar powered vehicle consumers, because they will no longer be concerned their vehicle would not be charged by the time they left work. No one wants stop to charge their vehicle on their way home, or worse running out of power before reaching a charging station.
Additionally, people or families with multiple electric vehicles could also have a solar charging station installed at their primary homes to charge multiple vehicles simultaneously. These charging stations would need to be affordable to install, or should be considered as a small additional fee at the time of the purchase of the electric or solar powered vehicle. This can make this process seamless and similar to the process associated with purchasing traditional vehicles.
In urban communities, it seems like a better idea to stick with the traditional plug in process, but have the parking garages or facilities run on solar panels found on the roof of the urban skyscrapers. To distribute the cost associated with the charging of electric or solar powered vehicles in urban areas, it makes sense to charge a flat fee similar to the charge to park in the space without charging. The charging fee should be based on a per hour basis. This can give the vehicles the opportunity to charge as needed, and then stop charging once the vehicle has reached its power capacity. This will minimize the opportunity for vehicles to be overcharged, which can damage the battery, and the amount people pay for charging.
Works Cited
Christ of Demont-Heinrich. Solar Charge Driving. 12 April 2016. 10 May 2016. <http://solarchargeddriving.com/2016/04/12/quebec-gets-new-solar-ev-charging-station/>.
Dewey, J. Encyclopedia of Transportation: Social Science and Policy. Ed. M. Garrett. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2014. < http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483346526.n179>.
Hara, K. O. and N. Usami. "Theory of open-circuit voltage and the driving force of charge separation in pn-junction solar cells." Jornal of Applied Physics 114.15 (2013): 153101.
Umbrella Corporation. Umrella Corporation. 2011-2013. 10 May 2016. <http://www.umbrellacorporation.jp/aboutus.html>.
Ye, B., et al. "Feasibility Study of a Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station Model." Energies 8.11 (2015): 13265-13283.
