Hybrid and Electric Cars

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are living up to their claims as consumers choose them more frequently. The increasing demand for sustainable vehicles translates into the global need for specific components, materials, and infrastructures and drives the regulatory frameworks in each country. While BEVs offer environmental benefits and global business opportunities, the technology has not yet gained mainstream acceptance. Thus, this work aims to investigate the characteristics of BEV users and their role in the diffusion of products to larger segments, as this may vary from country to country. For this purpose, a survey based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT-2) (Venkatesh et al., 2012) framework and structural equation modeling (SmartPLS) was adopted. The results indicated that, except for the constructs of effort expectancy (EE) and social influence (SI), the predictors in the model performed well in this context. Current users are satisfied with their vehicles and strongly prefer future choices. The analysis also revealed that in addition to the availability of financial resources, early adopters are attracted by new technologies in a way that leads them to make decisions outside of the traditional influence of the other members of society. It is suggested to leverage the perceived benefits of status, differentiation, or uniqueness motives, to appeal to those seeking to appear trendy and tech-savvy in society. Companies Walking the talk? MNEs transitioning towards a sustainable World

So far, Italy has shown a much lower electric vehicle (EV) adoption rate than other European countries. In an effort to understand the motivations for the limited but growing EV uptake, this paper focuses on Italian drivers' preferences resulting from a stated preference survey carried out in October-December 2018. This paper complements the international literature and updates previous Italian surveys administered by the authors in the past years (Valeri and Danielis, 2015; Giansoldati et al., 2018). The econometric analysis of the stated choices confirms that the vehicle attributes such as purchase price, fuel economy, and driving range play a very relevant role. The time spent to charge the vehicle affects negatively the respondents' utility, while the fast charging network density is not yet perceived as significant or carries a counter-intuitive sign. On the contrary, the possibility to park EVs for free, even for a limited time, in the city central areas is positively valued by the respondents. Comparing our estimates with previous Italian studies, in particular with Giansoldati et al. (2018) who uses a similar questionnaire but on an earlier and more limited sample, there are hints of a change in the perception of the Italian drivers towards EVs. A noticeable difference is the value of the EV alternative specific constant. Giansoldati et al. (2018) find a negative value while this study finds a positive one. A second finding is that the willingness to pay for an additional driving range kilometre is lower than that previously found, indicating that Italian drivers are becoming more confident on EV driving range. Scenario analysis indicates that in Italy financial incentives would have a larger impact on the probability of buying an EV than technological improvements.

So far, Italy has shown a much lower electric vehicle (EV) adoption rate than other European countries. In an effort to understand the motivations for the limited but growing EV uptake, this paper focuses on Italian drivers' preferences resulting from a stated preference survey carried out in October-December 2018. This paper complements the international literature and updates previous Italian surveys administered by the authors in the past years (Valeri and Danielis, 2015; Giansoldati et al., 2018). The econometric analysis of the stated choices confirms that the vehicle attributes such as purchase price, fuel economy, and driving range play a very relevant role. The time spent to charge the vehicle affects negatively the respondents' utility, while the fast charging network density is not yet perceived as significant or carries a counter-intuitive sign. On the contrary, the possibility to park EVs for free, even for a limited time, in the city central areas is positively valued by the respondents. Comparing our estimates with previous Italian studies, in particular with Giansoldati et al. (2018) who uses a similar questionnaire but on an earlier and more limited sample, there are hints of a change in the perception of the Italian drivers towards EVs. A noticeable difference is the value of the EV alternative specific constant. Giansoldati et al. (2018) find a negative value while this study finds a positive one. A second finding is that the willingness to pay for an additional driving range kilometre is lower than that previously found, indicating that Italian drivers are becoming more confident on EV driving range. Scenario analysis indicates that in Italy financial incentives would have a larger impact on the probability of buying an EV than technological improvements.

Electric vehicle adoption is considered to be a promising pathway for addressing climate change. However, the market for charging stations suffers from a market failure: a lack of EV sales disincentives charging station production, which in turn inhibits mass EV adoption. Charging station subsidies are often discussed as policy levers that can stimulate charging station supply and correct this market failure. Nonetheless, there is limited research examining the extent such subsidies are successful in promoting charging station supply. Using annual data on electric vehicle sales, charging station counts, and subsidy amounts from 57 California counties and a staggered difference-indifferences methodology, I find that charging station subsidies are highly effective: counties that adopt subsidies experience a 36% increase in charging station supply 2 years following subsidy adoption. This finding suggests that governmental intervention can help correct the market failure in the charging station market.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), the most salient environmentally responsible vehicles, can help to make the world cleaner and more livable. Although studies have yielded an impressive set of findings about consumers' intention to purchase HEV from the perspective of economic, environmental, and social concerns, much less attention has been paid to self-related concerns for consumers' intention to purchase HEVs. The present study investigated whether relative level of environmentalism and self-construal jointly predicted degree of interest in and intention to purchase HEVs. Seven hundred and fifty-two respondents (mainly from the U.S. and India) completed a survey, but the results for the different levels of environmental belief and self-construal were based on 289 participants. The results showed that level of environmentalism interacted with self-construal to predict the degree of interest in HEVs and intention to purchase HEVs. Post hoc tests revealed that among participants who had relatively low level of environmentalism, participants with interdependent self-construal had a greater degree of interest in HEVs and greater intention to purchase HEVs than did participants with independent self-construal. In contrast, among participants who had relatively high levels of environmentalism, participants with independent self-construal had a greater degree of interest in HEVs and greater intention to purchase HEVs than did participants with interdependent self-construal. However, the effect of the interaction between relative level of environmentalism and self-construal on intention to purchase HEVs was not significant when the degree of interest in HEVs was controlled.

Reducing emissions from privately-owned cars plays a central role in reaching targets for global greenhouse gas emissions. Electrification has been one strategy to meet this goal. Norway has been a forerunner and is today the country with the highest proportion of privately-owned battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe. Thus, studying Norwegian experiences with electric mobility should be useful for those working with the electrification of person transport in other countries. In this paper, we analyze user experiences with different models of BEVs, symbolic dimensions of BEV ownership and use, and the significance of incentives promoting BEVs. We argue that the total package of incentives not only provides instrumental motives to buy BEVs but represents a highly visible, national policy in support of BEVs that has been important for adoption, giving BEVs a symbolic certification as an environmentally sound mobility choice. The paper also points to the way incentives for BEVs have different meaning to different drivers according to BEV model and driving experience. Hence, we stress the importance of not treating BEVs as a homogenous technology when developing policy. We argue that the combination of the economic and symbolic value of incentives, technical and practical dimensions of BEVs and not least growing environmental concerns have fostered the successful introduction of BEVs in Norway. The paper is based on in-depth interviews with different segments of BEV drivers in 2013 and 2015, as well as data from two surveys conducted by the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association in 2016 and 2017. 1. Electric vehicles in the transport system Cars have become the centerpiece, or 'the leading object', of the modern transport system (Lefebvre, 1971). Apart from providing the possibility to travel almost everywhere at any time, the car is also a symbol of freedom, signaling social status and giving expression to one's identity (

To meet current targets for greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, emissions, especially those originating from the road transport sector, need to be reduced. Plans are to achieve this goal by substituting fossil fuel vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs). This article first discusses conceptually the impact of an increasing share of EVs on the electricity grid and suitable locations for charging stations with examples from a Case Study in Lower Bavaria. Secondly, the impact of purchase subsidies on EV purchases in Germany, a high-income country characterized by an important automotive industry and an increasing share of private vehicles is examined. To achieve this, yearly information on EV purchases were analyzed by applying the Synthetic Control Method. Combining data from different sources including the European Alternative Fuels Observatory, Eurostat, and the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, an overall picture was developed. Results indicate a difference between...

The objective of this research is to present a novel approach in magnetic abrasive finishing to improve its potential for creating different finishing patterns in free-form surface using no special fixtures or tool machines to minimize the complexity of the process. The key point of this idea is that magnetic abrasive particles can move in especial patterns by transfer magnetic fields (similar a magnetic train moving on a magnetic rail) and create the desired polishing patterns on the surface simultaneously. The coils are placed under a thin plate, then a flexible magnetic path is created by a special arrangement of magnetic coils, after that, the coils are turned on and off in turn, and the magnetic abrasive particles move in the created path and abrasive the surface. The continuous movement of magnetic abrasive particles under the magnetic field will lead to abrasive the surface of thin sheets. The tests were performed on copper sheets with a thickness of 1 mm. Experimental parameters include electric current (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75A), speed of turning on and off of the coils (speed of magnetic abrasive particle movement) (20, 30, and 40 mm/s), and process time (1, 2, and 3 hours). The experiments were performed on an L-shaped and free-form sheets. The results show that using a transmission magnetic field in the MAF (TMAF) makes it easy to create different surface roughness patterns in different directions simultaneously. While in one part of the L shape the electric current is 0.25A, the surface roughness of is around 0.9 µm, in the other part, where the electric current is 0.75A, the surface roughness of is around 0.55 µm. Meanwhile, TMAF makes it possible to finish a free-form surface with no special fixtures. Moreover, there is a direct relationship between the change in the surface roughness and the electric current and process time.

International research illustrates some attributes of electro-mobility such as charging infrastructure and range which are crucial determinants of market development. Between 2017 and 2020 the number of battery electric vehicles in Germany has increased much more compared to the number of charging points. High preferences for these attributes in combination with insufficient infrastructure require further clarification to explain why the development of markets for electro-mobility in Germany during the last years is not as expected. This study aims to examine the willingness to pay for attributes of different types of electric vehicles and for car sharing in order to derive recommendations for marketing and policy. The representative study is based on a survey of 405 car users in Germany using a discrete choice experiment with the attributes price, power, running costs, bonus, range and availability of charging stations. 12 choice situations were presented to each respondent. A latent class model was used to analyze socio economic determinants of the willingness to pay for single attributes. The results confirm findings in the literature indicating low preferences for battery electric vehicles in general. Due to high shares of house owners in suburban regions this consumer group should be more focused in local sustainability concepts and marketing of battery electric vehicles and other alternative vehicles.

As the globalisation is increasing, so is the demand for oil-based energy which is ultimately resulting in the rapid fluctuation of the market prices of the crude oil due to the basic principle of economics 'Law of Demand'. This volatility and uncertainty in the crude oil's demand and prices create pressure upon the governments and the policymakers to look alternatives, one of them being the adaptation of green technologies. In line with the developed countries, India, as a developing economy, is all set to plunge into this new innovative market of electric vehicles (EVs) and aims to become a major producer of the EVs for Indian as well as the global markets. So, this research paper aims to explore the expected demand for EVs, the market share and the contribution of the EVs and associated technologies to the foreign trade.

Transport choices are not merely practical decisions but steeped in cultural and societal perceptions. Understanding these latent drivers of behaviour will allow countries to develop and import policies to more successfully promote sustainable transport. Transport symbolism-what people believe their ownership or use of a mode connotes to others about their societal positionhas been shown to be one such, non-trivial, hidden motivator. In the case of hybrid and electric cars ('eco cars'), studies have demonstrated how their symbolic value varies within a society among different social groups. As yet, however, there has been scant research into comparing how the symbolism of a mode varies across national cultures, horizontally, between individuals with similar socio-demographic characteristics. Through qualitative thematic analysis, this study utilises two of Hofstede's cross-cultural indices-power differential and individualism versus collectivism-to develop and strengthen theory on how the differing symbolism of eco cars currently varies between four cultural clusters-Anglo, Nordic, Confucian and South Asian. It also deliberates how observed symbolic qualitative differences may influence an individual or group choice to procure eco cars. Finally, it discusses how policy development, transfer and marketing, within the context of eco cars, may need to be modified by national governments, in the Confucian and South Asian cultures, so as to encourage uptake and modal shift.

In this research paper, a new method called MAF-S process was used for micromachining the inner surfaces of pipes. Magnetic Assisted Finishing process is a surface finishing technique in which a magnetic field is used to force abrasive particles against the target surface. Recently, this process has attracted the researchers. As an extension of MAF process for the finishing of cylindrical surfaces, MAF-S process was introduced. In this approach, by using the magnetic field of a stator, magnetic abrasive particles were wrought as magnetic rods and surface micromachining was carried out by the dynamic particular pattern made by a stator magnetic field. The aim of this process was to improve machining efficiency of Aluminum pipes based on surface roughness and tolerance parameters. By continuously using the DOE technique (Design of Experiments), the effects of parameters such as pipe inner diameter, abrasive particles weight, frequency and machining time on the changes of surface roughness were investigated. Taguchi standard orthogonal method (L 9 (3 4)), which was associated with nine experiments, was used to analyze the factors. Then, two most widely used analytical techniques including Signal to Noise ratio (S/N) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the output results derived from experiments by powerful statistical SPSS software. Finally, by considering the results of analysis and graphs plotted, abrasive particles weight and frequency were identified as significant and the optimum of pipe inner diameter of 55 mm, abrasive particles weight of 1 g, frequency of 40 Hz and machining time of 60 s were obtained.

Transport symbolism-what people believe their ownership and/or use of a particular mode connotes to others about their societal position – has been shown to be a non-trivial motivator of transport choice. Furthermore, in terms of hybrid and electric cars, individual studies have demonstrated how their symbolic value varies within a particular society, for different social groups. As yet, however, no work has compared how this symbolism varies across national cultures, horizontally, for individuals with similar socio-demographic characteristics. Through qualitative analysis, this study utilises two of Hofstede's cross-cultural indices – power differential and individualism versus collectivism – to develop and strengthen theory on the symbolism of hybrid and electric cars across national cultures, at this point in time. It then goes on to discuss how the noted qualitative differences may influence individual or group choices to procure and use such vehicles. This may strongly influence the potential outcomes of transport policy formulation and transfer, as well as product marketing efforts.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), the most salient environmentally responsible vehicles, can help to make the world cleaner and more livable. Although studies have yielded an impressive set of findings about consumers' intention to purchase HEV from the perspective of economic, environmental , and social concerns, much less attention has been paid to self-related concerns for consumers' intention to purchase HEVs. The present study investigated whether relative level of environmentalism and self-construal jointly predicted degree of interest in and intention to purchase HEVs. Seven hundred and fifty-two respondents (mainly from the U.S. and India) completed a survey, but the results for the different levels of environmental belief and self-construal were based on 289 participants. The results showed that level of environ-mentalism interacted with self-construal to predict the degree of interest in HEVs and intention to purchase HEVs. Post hoc tests revealed that among participants who had relatively low level of environmentalism, participants with interdependent self-construal had a greater degree of interest in HEVs and greater intention to purchase HEVs than did participants with independent self-construal. In contrast, among participants who had relatively high levels of environmentalism, participants with independent self-construal had a greater degree of interest in HEVs and greater intention to purchase HEVs than did participants with interdependent self-construal. However, the effect of the interaction between relative level of environmentalism and self-construal on intention to purchase HEVs was not significant when the degree of interest in HEVs was controlled.

Electric vehicles are the greatest technology step that needs to be taken to reduce future emissions and needs of fossil fuels. This article will explain; history of electric cars, how electric vehicles work, what kind of mechanisms they have, charging and storage systems. It will also make comparisons between battery electric vehicles (BEV) and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV).

This paper review on surface quality evaluation in electrophoretic deposition assisted polishing (EPDAP) of steel and other materials. Surface roughness is an important parameter to determine surface quality and hence is also a critical response parameter in EPDAP. EPDAP is recent development in surface finishing and is capable to generate at the order of nanometres which essentially increasing the life of any part, subjected to repeated reversal stress. Surface quality of electrophoretic deposited polished part depends on few important parameters such as, EPD polishing parameters, work piece parameter, and tool parameter. Due to all these EPD parameter the overall surface roughness is reduced. This review paper gives some background of EPDAP of steel as well as other material for better surface finish.