IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v251y2025ics0960148125010560.html

Enhancing efficiency of ethanol-powered range extenders in the BMW i3: A simulation-based optimization approach

Author

Listed:
  • Weissinger, Frederico
  • Lacava, Pedro
  • Peñaranda, Alexander
  • Martelli, Andre
  • Rufino, Caio Henrique
  • Curto-Risso, Pedro
  • Martinez-Boggio, Santiago

Abstract

Ethanol-powered range-extended plug-in hybrid electric vehicles offer a sustainable alternative to reduce carbon emissions in light-duty transport. This study optimizes a BMW i3's range-extender engine for hydrous ethanol by increasing compression ratio, applying a Miller cycle, and using exhaust gas recirculation. Vehicle simulations and testing show a brake-specific fuel consumption reduction of up to 10.5 %, with a 4 % fuel efficiency gain over gasoline blends. Ethanol use decreased vehicle fuel consumption by over 20 % in most cycles and reduced overall energy consumption by 10 % compared to the gasoline range extender, though with a 5 % range loss due to ethanol's lower energy density. Despite this, ethanol's rapid refuelling capability presents an advantage over battery-electric vehicles. These findings highlight ethanol-powered range extenders as a practical solution to lower emissions while mitigating range anxiety.

Suggested Citation

  • Weissinger, Frederico & Lacava, Pedro & Peñaranda, Alexander & Martelli, Andre & Rufino, Caio Henrique & Curto-Risso, Pedro & Martinez-Boggio, Santiago, 2025. "Enhancing efficiency of ethanol-powered range extenders in the BMW i3: A simulation-based optimization approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:251:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125010560
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123394
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125010560
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123394?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. García, Antonio & Monsalve-Serrano, Javier & Martinez-Boggio, Santiago & Gaillard, Patrick, 2021. "Impact of the hybrid electric architecture on the performance and emissions of a delivery truck with a dual-fuel RCCI engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    2. Tavakoli, Sady & Jazayeri, S. Ali & Fathi, Morteza & Jahanian, Omid, 2016. "Miller cycle application to improve lean burn gas engine performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 190-200.
    3. Chen, Syuan-Yi & Wu, Chien-Hsun & Hung, Yi-Hsuan & Chung, Cheng-Ta, 2018. "Optimal strategies of energy management integrated with transmission control for a hybrid electric vehicle using dynamic particle swarm optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 154-170.
    4. Li, Xunming & Han, Lijin & Liu, Hui & Wang, Weida & Xiang, Changle, 2019. "Real-time optimal energy management strategy for a dual-mode power-split hybrid electric vehicle based on an explicit model predictive control algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1161-1178.
    5. Pal, Preeti & Gopal, P.R.C. & Ramkumar, M., 2023. "Impact of transportation on climate change: An ecological modernization theoretical perspective," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 167-183.
    6. Santiago Martinez-Boggio & Javier Monsalve-Serrano & Antonio García & Pedro Curto-Risso, 2023. "High Degree of Electrification in Heavy-Duty Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-20, April.
    7. García, Antonio & Monsalve-Serrano, Javier & Martínez-Boggio, Santiago & Rückert Roso, Vinícius & Duarte Souza Alvarenga Santos, Nathália, 2020. "Potential of bio-ethanol in different advanced combustion modes for hybrid passenger vehicles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 58-77.
    8. Pan, Suozhu & Cai, Kai & Cai, Min & Du, Chenbo & Li, Xin & Han, Weiqiang & Wang, Xin & Liu, Daming & Wei, Jiangjun & Fang, Jia & Bao, Xiuchao, 2021. "Experimental study on the cyclic variations of ethanol/diesel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion in a heavy-duty diesel engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Claudio Urrea, 2025. "Fatigue-Aware Sub-Second Combinatorial Auctions for Dynamic Cycle Allocation in Human–Robot Collaborative Assembly," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-21, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ioan-Sorin Sorlei & Nicu Bizon & Phatiphat Thounthong & Mihai Varlam & Elena Carcadea & Mihai Culcer & Mariana Iliescu & Mircea Raceanu, 2021. "Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles—A Brief Review of Current Topologies and Energy Management Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-29, January.
    2. Zhang, Hao & Liu, Shang & Lei, Nuo & Fan, Qinhao & Wang, Zhi, 2022. "Leveraging the benefits of ethanol-fueled advanced combustion and supervisory control optimization in hybrid biofuel-electric vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    3. Nyong-Bassey, Bassey Etim & Giaouris, Damian & Patsios, Charalampos & Papadopoulou, Simira & Papadopoulos, Athanasios I. & Walker, Sara & Voutetakis, Spyros & Seferlis, Panos & Gadoue, Shady, 2020. "Reinforcement learning based adaptive power pinch analysis for energy management of stand-alone hybrid energy storage systems considering uncertainty," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    4. Eckert, Jony Javorski & Silva, Fabrício L. & da Silva, Samuel Filgueira & Bueno, André Valente & de Oliveira, Mona Lisa Moura & Silva, Ludmila C.A., 2022. "Optimal design and power management control of hybrid biofuel–electric powertrain," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    5. Angel Recalde & Ricardo Cajo & Washington Velasquez & Manuel S. Alvarez-Alvarado, 2024. "Machine Learning and Optimization in Energy Management Systems for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-39, June.
    6. Bizon, Nicu, 2019. "Efficient fuel economy strategies for the Fuel Cell Hybrid Power Systems under variable renewable/load power profile," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Yang, Jibin & Xu, Xiaohui & Peng, Yiqiang & Zhang, Jiye & Song, Pengyun, 2019. "Modeling and optimal energy management strategy for a catenary-battery-ultracapacitor based hybrid tramway," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1123-1135.
    8. Sittijunda, Sureewan & Reungsang, Alissara, 2020. "Valorization of crude glycerol into hydrogen, 1,3-propanediol, and ethanol in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor under thermophilic conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 361-372.
    9. Osorio, Julian D. & Rivera-Alvarez, Alejandro, 2018. "Efficiency enhancement of spark-ignition engines using a Continuous Variable Valve Timing system for load control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 649-662.
    10. Zhu, Tao & Wills, Richard G.A. & Lot, Roberto & Ruan, Haijun & Jiang, Zhihao, 2021. "Adaptive energy management of a battery-supercapacitor energy storage system for electric vehicles based on flexible perception and neural network fitting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    11. Amaral, Lucimar Venâncio & Santos, Nathália Duarte Souza Alvarenga & Roso, Vinícius Rückert & Sebastião, Rita de Cássia de Oliveira & Pujatti, Fabrício José Pacheco, 2021. "Effects of gasoline composition on engine performance, exhaust gases and operational costs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    12. Shen, Kai & Xu, Zishun & Chen, Hong & Zhang, Zhendong, 2021. "Investigation on the EGR effect to further improve fuel economy and emissions effect of Miller cycle turbocharged engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PB).
    13. Ju, Fei & Zhuang, Weichao & Wang, Liangmo & Zhang, Zhe, 2020. "Comparison of four-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain configurations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    14. Mendiburu, Andrés Z. & Lauermann, Carlos H. & Hayashi, Thamy C. & Mariños, Diego J. & Rodrigues da Costa, Roberto Berlini & Coronado, Christian J.R. & Roberts, Justo J. & de Carvalho, João A., 2022. "Ethanol as a renewable biofuel: Combustion characteristics and application in engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    15. Penghui Qiang & Peng Wu & Tao Pan & Huaiquan Zang, 2021. "Real-Time Approximate Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy Based on the Single-Shaft Parallel Hybrid Powertrain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, November.
    16. Liu, Xinzhi & Qi, Nanjian & Dai, Keren & Yin, Yajiang & Zhao, Jiahao & Wang, Xiaofeng & You, Zheng, 2022. "Sponge Supercapacitor rule-based energy management strategy for wireless sensor nodes optimized by using dynamic programing algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    17. Yang, Yalian & Li, Pengshuai & Pei, Huanxin & Zou, Yunge, 2022. "Design of all-wheel-drive power-split hybrid configuration schemes based on hierarchical topology graph theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    18. Jia, Dongdong & Qiao, Junhao & Wang, Shuqian & Guan, Jinhuan & Liu, Jingping & Fu, Jianqin & Li, Yangyang & Wang, Rumin, 2024. "Influence of variable enhanced LIVC miller cycle coupled with high compression ratio on the performance and combustion of a supercharged spark ignition engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    19. Wan, Xin & Luo, Xiong-Lin, 2020. "Economic optimization of chemical processes based on zone predictive control with redundancy variables," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    20. Massimiliano Passalacqua & Mauro Carpita & Serge Gavin & Mario Marchesoni & Matteo Repetto & Luis Vaccaro & Sébastien Wasterlain, 2019. "Supercapacitor Storage Sizing Analysis for a Series Hybrid Vehicle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:251:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125010560. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.