Sustainable Transition in Transport Energy Consumption: The Charging/Discharging Infrastructure and Self-Containing Transport Energy System of New Energy Vehicles

1. Introduction

This Editorial is part of a collection titled “Sustainable Transition in Transport Energy Consumption: The Charging/Discharging Infrastructure and Self-Containing Transport Energy System of New Energy Vehicles”, providing a complement and introduction to the Special Issue to help readers better understand the collection papers’ contributions. As global carbon neutrality goals progress, the integration of energy and transportation has become an indispensable strategy to combat climate change and promote sustainable development. By improving energy efficiency and optimizing the energy structure within the transportation sector, this integration demonstrates significant potential for emission reduction and innovation. In recent years, rapid advancements in clean energy technologies, including photovoltaic power generation, wind energy harvesting, and the integration of storage systems, have laid the technological foundation for transforming transportation energy systems. Additionally, the proliferation of smart technologies, such as energy demand forecasting, multi-energy coordination optimization, and autonomous driving, has further enhanced the synergy between energy and transportation. This study systematically reviews the latest research advancements in this field and explores future development directions.

2. Clean Energy Development and Optimization on Highways

As an essential component of transportation networks, the application of clean energy technologies in highways has achieved remarkable results. The deployment of photovoltaic power generation technologies along highways can produce tens of billions of kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, meeting the energy demands of infrastructure while feeding surplus electricity back to the grid, thus supporting the promotion of green energy [1].

The development of autonomous energy systems has become critical for leveraging clean energy on highways. A multi-objective chance-constrained programming model integrating wind and photovoltaic power not only optimizes energy allocation but also significantly improves a system’s economic viability and reliability [2]. Monte Carlo simulations further enhance a system’s robustness under uncertainty, providing a scientific basis for planning and implementation [3].

Additionally, studies on the current status of green energy applications in China’s highway transportation system have proposed comprehensive strategies, including strengthening clean energy infrastructure, optimizing the application of existing technologies, and enhancing incentive policies. These measures provide holistic guidance for achieving highway greenification [4].

3. Clean Energy Development and Application in Railways

As a model of low-carbon transportation, railways hold significant potential for energy transition. Research indicates that the photovoltaic power generation potential of China’s railway system is estimated at 170 TWh annually, with a self-sufficiency ratio of up to 284.84%. In electrifying railways in remote areas, the coordinated development of wind and hydropower offers efficient solutions for non-electrified regions. For instance, small-scale wind power facilities along the Qinghai–Tibet Railway meet monitoring equipment’s energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels [5].

The application of hydrogen energy technology in non-electrified railways demonstrates broad prospects. The design of multi-energy collaborative models significantly enhances the stability and diversity of railway energy systems, providing valuable insights for the further optimization of railway energy structures.

4. Clean Energy and Optimization Strategies in Ports

Ports are critical scenarios for the integration of energy and transportation. The development and optimal layout of wind energy resources remain a focal area of research. Rational site selection and layout design for wind turbines have significantly improved wind energy utilization efficiency in ports [6]. Additionally, comprehensive port energy system designs that consider economic feasibility, environmental friendliness, and energy efficiency offer technical references for constructing green ports [7].

In energy management, short-term load forecasting has become a vital tool for optimizing energy allocation. A model based on variational mode decomposition (VMD), temporal convolutional networks (TCNs), and long short-term memory networks (LSTMs) achieved a prediction accuracy of 94%, effectively supporting energy dispatch and optimization [8].

The evaluation of microgrid operational efficiency is an essential aspect of port energy system optimization. Using an improved CRITIC-TOPSIS method, different planning schemes can be comprehensively ranked for effectiveness, enhancing the scientific validity and reliability of evaluations to support decision-making [9].

5. Urban–Rural Coordination and Rural Clean Energy Projects

Urban–rural coordination plays a vital role in promoting clean energy applications, particularly in rural areas. Waste-to-energy incineration projects not only provide feasible solutions for solid waste disposal but also contribute to rural revitalization through green energy. These projects, combined with distributed energy and smart grid technologies, lay a foundation for sustainable energy supply in remote areas. However, challenges in policy execution, economic returns, and social acceptance must be addressed. In-depth risk analysis and stakeholder collaboration can improve the feasibility and societal acceptance of these projects [10].

6. Technological Innovations in Transportation Systems

Technological innovation provides robust momentum for the development of low-carbon transportation systems. In logistics, studies using genetic algorithms to optimize vaccine distribution routes have significantly reduced energy consumption in cold chain transportation while lowering carbon emissions. This provides a technological demonstration of low-carbon logistics development [11].

7. Optimization of Charging Station Locations for Electric Taxis

With the widespread adoption of electric taxis, planning the layout of charging stations has become a critical issue in urban energy management. Research using multi-type clustering algorithms demonstrates that analyzing the GPS trajectory data of vehicles can efficiently extract parking and charging demands, leading to the rational configuration of charging station locations. These strategies, combining multiple algorithms, not only reduce vehicle travel distances but also optimize charging times, providing scientific support for efficient urban charging networks [12].

8. Outlook and Conclusions

The deep integration of energy and transportation is an essential pathway to achieving green and low-carbon development. Future research should focus on the coordinated development of clean energy for highways and railways, the optimization of energy systems in ports, and the promotion of rural clean energy projects. Policy support and international cooperation will play critical roles in accelerating this process. By introducing advanced technologies and optimizing policy frameworks, China is poised to lead globally in energy–transportation integration.

Additionally, the widespread application of intelligent technologies, such as autonomous driving and smart scheduling, will significantly enhance the efficiency and safety of energy and transportation systems. Continued emphasis on urban–rural coordination and clean energy innovation will provide robust support for achieving carbon neutrality goals.