Academic and Corporate Vehicle Electrification Research

We developed and used methodology to analyze scientific publications in Scopus relating to vehicle electrification and associated key enabling technologies: batteries, fuel cells and electric machines with power electronics. The global research landscape was mapped, and an analysis of the 16 most active countries was carried out. Vehicle electrification publications are rewarded with a high citation impact, and they include corporate actors to a great extent. China dominates in vehicle electrification research as well as in the enabling technologies, and China’s position is set to become even more dominating. Battery research has grown rapidly with a high citation impact, whereas the volume of research for the other enabling technologies was more constant during 2017–2021. Automakers’ research that has led to scientific publications was specifically studied. Ford Motor Company was the automaker with the highest number of vehicle electrification publications during 2017–2021. A large share of the automakers’ publications was co-authored with academic actors, and such publications were rewarded with a higher citation impact than those without. However, the share of international co-publications among the automakers was meager. It is concluded that the analysis of vehicle electrification publications gives an overview of the rapidly developing field. Moreover, the analysis of automakers’ involvement in such research is one way of obtaining one perspective on their strategies and priorities

Pension Incentives and Early Retirement

In this paper we exploit a cohort-specific pension reform to estimate the causal labour market effects of changes in the financial incentives to retire. In particular, we analyze the effects of the introduction of cohort-specific deductions for early retirement on female retirement, employment and unemployment. For the empirical analysis we use high-quality administrative data from the German pension insurance. We present evidence for sizable labour market effects. In addition to direct effects on women older than 60 we find important anticipation effects before reaching the pension eligibility age. Overall we document that the pension reform leads to a postponement of retirement, an increase in employment and a shifting in unemployment over age rather than a substitution into unemployment

Modelling of wood-chip refining processes

At present, due to the complexity of the wood chip refining processes, there are no suitable physical or parametric models available which can be used when studying different control strategies. It is shown that the process, which consists of two serially linked refiners, can be modelled as two multiple input, single output systems. To each refiner the dynamics from the chip flow to the motor load and from dilution water to the motor load are examined. It is shown that the pressure cannot be ignored in the model and that the motor load of the first refiner can be used as an input when modelling the second refiner. This indicates the possibility to use the load for feed forward control. The time stability of the models found was examined. The survey showed a small change in the model characteristics, but the ability to simulate the motor toads was not significantly reduced

Improved hydrogen peroxide bleaching of mechanical pulps using carbon dioxide in combination with sodium and magnesium based alkali sources

The pH-profile in the hydrogen peroxide bleaching stage of a Norway spruce thermomechanical pulp was levelled out by using carbon dioxide in combination with sodium or magnesium based alkali sources. Addition of carbon dioxide when magnesium hydroxide was used as the alkali source increased the pulp brightness with up to 1.5 brightness units when the bleaching was performed at 70 \ub0C. When the temperature was increased from 70\ub0C to 90 \ub0C the brightness was increased with about two brightness units, addition of carbon dioxide increased it further. The residual hydrogen peroxide and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels were not affected as a consequence of the carbon dioxide addition. In the experiments where sodium hydroxide was used as the alkali source, addition of carbon dioxide lowered the pH that resulted in a decreased COD level, a slightly lower brightness level and, to some extent, an increased residual hydrogen peroxide level

Improved hydrogen peroxide bleaching of mechanical pulps using carbon dioxide in combination with sodium and magnesium based alkali sources

The pH-profile in the hydrogen peroxide bleaching stage of a Norway spruce thermomechanical pulp was levelled out by using carbon dioxide in combination with sodium or magnesium based alkali sources. Addition of carbon dioxide when magnesium hydroxide was used as the alkali source increased the pulp brightness with up to 1.5 brightness units when the bleaching was performed at 70 \ub0C. When the temperature was increased from 70\ub0C to 90 \ub0C the brightness was increased with about two brightness units, addition of carbon dioxide increased it further. The residual hydrogen peroxide and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels were not affected as a consequence of the carbon dioxide addition. In the experiments where sodium hydroxide was used as the alkali source, addition of carbon dioxide lowered the pH that resulted in a decreased COD level, a slightly lower brightness level and, to some extent, an increased residual hydrogen peroxide level

Comparing fuel cells and other power trains for different vehicle applications

This paper compares the total cost of ownership (TCO) for fuel cell, battery electric, range extender and biofuel combustion engine power trains. The TCO difference shows that the power trains are suitable for very different vehicle niches. Battery electric vehicles can reach the lowest cost per kilometer, but only if the battery is utilized very much. Fuel cell range extender vehicles are cost effective for vehicles requiring long driving range but typically driving shorter distances. Internal combustion engine power trains will have the lowest TCO for vehicles with short driving distance during their life, even if the biofuel is rather expensive