Development of a multi-purpose infrastructure for sustainable mobility. A case study in a smart cities application

Research in smart cities is characterised by different needs: decrease of polluting emissions, improvement of energy efficiency, optimization of production and consumption of energy are the main action required. According to the last European directives, alternative fuels can play a fundamental role in the future of transportation [1]. In the framework of an Italian research project, called i-NEXT (innovation for greeN Energy and eXchange in Trasportation), CNR-ITAE has developed a microgrid able to receive, as input, the solar energy and to deliver, as output, hydrogen and electricity for electric and hydrogen vehicles [2-6]. A 100 kW photovoltaic plant, installed on the roof of a shed for vehicles recovering, represents the energy source. An electrochemical energy storage of 100 kW and 300 kWh, equipped with 16 sodium nickel chloride high temperature batteries, balances the energy production from PV plant in order to guarantee the energy self-sufficiency of the whole system. Electricity produced supplies both an on-site hydrogen production (by electrolysis), compression and distribution system and an electric charging station needed for Electric Vehicles (EV), Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) and Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FCHEV). The hydrogen produced supplies two FCE bikes and a FCHE minibus developed in the framework of the project while a last mile delivery van (EV) is fed through a fast charging station. An ICT platform allows to monitor, control and connect plants and vehicles in order to manage energy flows, fault and warning events. The paper reports the results of the research activities regarding both infrastructures and vehicles development.