Business models in the shared electric mobility field: A market overview towards electric Mobility as a Service (eMaaS)

In response to the increasing demand for shared mobility and multimodal passenger transport services, new mobility concepts such as Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and electric Mobility as a Service (eMaaS) are becoming commonplace. However, in order for new MaaS and eMaaS providers to become competitive, innovative business models (BMs) and effective market strategies are needed. This paper presents a market analysis of 229 existing providers and mobile apps within the Shared Electric Mobility (SEM) field. The goal of the analysis presented in this paper is to provide an overview of both the current BMs used in practice and the state of the market for MaaS and eMaaS endeavours. The results of the analysis determine which are the strengths of the key players within the SEM market, and how the core characteristics of their BMs can contribute to the further development of eMaaS

More than 10 years of industry 4.0 in the Netherlands:an opinion on promises, achievements, and emerging challenges

The concept of Industry 4.0, as a means to move forward in the industrial ecosystem, has reached an important turning point. Where do we stand now in terms of industrial innovation and transition? This opinion paper provides an overview of the situation in the Netherlands, a reflection on what has been achieved by the Industry 4.0 paradigm, and the necessary way forward to solidify its implementation. Tentative results reveal that the pervasiveness of Industry 4.0 applications is sector-specific. This work provides industrial stakeholders and academics with useful suggestions and a possible path to move towards better integration of Industry 4.0 in company reality. In this opinion paper, we employ a mixed methods research methodology to argue that, based on our findings on industrial adaptation in The Netherlands, Industry 4.0 is the outcome of an evolutionary process and not of a revolution, as it is often claimed

In-Company Smart Charging: Development of a Simulation Model to Facilitate a Smart EV Charging System

Current electric vehicle (EV) charging systems have limited smart functionality, and most research focuses on load-balancing the national or regional grid. In this article, we focus on supporting the early design of a smart charging system that can effectively and efficiently charge a company’s EV fleet, maximizing the use of self-generated Photo-Voltaic energy. The support takes place in the form of the Vehicle Charging Simulation (VeCS) model. System performance is determined by operational costs, CO2 emissions and employee satisfaction. Two impactful smart charging functions concern adaptive charging speeds and charging point management. Simulation algorithms for these functions are developed. The VeCS model is developed to simulate implementation of a smart charging system incorporating both charging infrastructure and local Photo-Voltaics input, using a company’s travel and energy data, prior to having the EVs in place. The model takes into account travel behaviour, energy input and energy consumption on a daily basis. The model shows the number of charged vehicles, whether incomplete charges occur, and energy flow during the day. The model also facilitates simulation of an entire year to determine overall cost and emission benefits. It also estimates charging costs and CO2 emissions that can be compared to the non-EV situation. With the VeCS model, the impact of various system design and implementation choices can be explored before EVs are used. Two system designs are proposed for the case company; a short-term version with current technology and a future version with various smart functionalities. Overall, the model can contribute to substantiated advice for a company regarding implementation of charging infrastructure