Design of a bio-hybrid solar quadricycle for sustainable urban delivery service.

Khubaib, M; Malik, MAI; Ul Hassan, Z

Design of a bio-hybrid solar quadricycle for sustainable urban delivery service.

Khubaib, M Malik, MAI Ul Hassan, Z

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Publisher:: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sci Prog, 2025, 108, (3), pp. 368504251359090
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Khubaib, M
dc.contributor.author	Malik, MAI
dc.contributor.author	Ul Hassan, Z
dc.date.accessioned	2026-01-13T01:34:16Z
dc.date.available	2026-01-13T01:34:16Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.citation	Sci Prog, 2025, 108, (3), pp. 368504251359090
dc.identifier.issn	0036-8504
dc.identifier.issn	2047-7163
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/191712
dc.description.abstract	The current study intends to provide a sustainable substitute for conventional motorbike-based delivery systems in Sydney, Australia, by designing a novel bio-hybrid solar quadricycle powered by plug-in, pedal, and solar energy. The current study exclusively integrates structural material analysis through ANSYS with powertrain simulation in Simulink to ascertain performance and feasibility. Among the tested materials, the low alloy steel AISI 4140 exhibits exceptional structural integrity with a minimal total deformation of 0.56116 mm, low equivalent strain (0.00073098 mm/mm), and the highest safety factor (4.3469). Modal analysis identifies aluminum 6061-T6 as effective in vibration damping, enhancing rider comfort, but other static structural results are not satisfactory. Simulink results confirm that a 1.8 kW DC motor coupled with a 3 kW lithium ion battery (LIB) permits effective operation over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) drive cycle, covering 3.3 km at a peak speed of 34 km/h, with only less than 1.5% drop in battery state of charge (SOC). Although the AISI 4140 shows the most effective results, it possesses higher hardness and lower ductility and is therefore less appropriate for parts that undergo exposure to cyclic loads, making it unsuitable for the whole chassis. AISI 4130 offers the best overall balance of strength, fatigue resistance, and ease of manufacturing. AISI 4130 also provides a superior blend of resilience, resistance to fatigue, and weldability. The outcomes portray AISI 4130 as the optimal frame material, offering a promising solution for eco-friendly and ergonomic urban delivery transport in Sydney, Australia.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Sci Prog
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/00368504251359090
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Microbiology
dc.title	Design of a bio-hybrid solar quadricycle for sustainable urban delivery service.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	108
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/Engineering and IT Related HDR Students
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-01-13T01:34:15Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	108
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

The current study intends to provide a sustainable substitute for conventional motorbike-based delivery systems in Sydney, Australia, by designing a novel bio-hybrid solar quadricycle powered by plug-in, pedal, and solar energy. The current study exclusively integrates structural material analysis through ANSYS with powertrain simulation in Simulink to ascertain performance and feasibility. Among the tested materials, the low alloy steel AISI 4140 exhibits exceptional structural integrity with a minimal total deformation of 0.56116 mm, low equivalent strain (0.00073098 mm/mm), and the highest safety factor (4.3469). Modal analysis identifies aluminum 6061-T6 as effective in vibration damping, enhancing rider comfort, but other static structural results are not satisfactory. Simulink results confirm that a 1.8 kW DC motor coupled with a 3 kW lithium ion battery (LIB) permits effective operation over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) drive cycle, covering 3.3 km at a peak speed of 34 km/h, with only less than 1.5% drop in battery state of charge (SOC). Although the AISI 4140 shows the most effective results, it possesses higher hardness and lower ductility and is therefore less appropriate for parts that undergo exposure to cyclic loads, making it unsuitable for the whole chassis. AISI 4130 offers the best overall balance of strength, fatigue resistance, and ease of manufacturing. AISI 4130 also provides a superior blend of resilience, resistance to fatigue, and weldability. The outcomes portray AISI 4130 as the optimal frame material, offering a promising solution for eco-friendly and ergonomic urban delivery transport in Sydney, Australia.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/191712