Economic and Environmental Impact of Military Electrical Vehicle Conversion and Solar Electricity Production

Abstract

Abstract Military vehicles carry out defence and training functions; however, they also participate extensively in military operations apart from war, such as supporting citizens in emergency situations. Nonetheless, they continue to contribute to pollution, and carbon emissions in Chile have doubled in recent years. Thus, this study seeks a partial solution to this problem, extending the useful life of an archetypal military vehicle, i.e. AIL Storm internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), 4.0L gasoline, through its conversion into an electric vehicle (EV) using lithium-ion batteries. AIL Storm ICE emissions are compared with an equivalent EV conversion prototype, analysing the CO2 emissions of the EV charged from the Chilean electricity grid or from a solar photovoltaic charging station, taking advantage of the high levels of solar radiation in Chile. This studied model obtains a travel cost of 0.04USD/km in the “electric grid charge mode” and 0.02USD/km in the “Solar power station charge mode”, affecting the environment with 155kgCO2 emissions per year of use. In the future, technologies to manufacture or assemble lithium batteries must be developed in the Chilean market. Given the availability of this mineral in Chile, this step would reduce costs and make electric mobility more attractive and affordable.