As the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) accelerates, driven by increasing urbanization and the push for sustainable infrastructure, the need for innovative solutions to support this growth has become more pressing. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology presents a promising solution by enabling EVs to engage in bidirectional interactions with the electrical grid. Through V2G, EVs can supply energy back to the grid during peak demand periods and draw power during off-peak times, offering a valuable tool for enhancing grid stability, improving energy management, and supporting environmental sustainability. Despite its potential, the large-scale implementation of V2G faces significant challenges, particularly from a technological and regulatory standpoint. The success of V2G requires coordinated efforts among various stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure providers, grid operators, and policymakers. In addition to the technical barriers, such as battery degradation due to frequent charging cycles and the need for advanced bidirectional charging systems, regulatory frameworks must evolve to accommodate this new energy paradigm. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of V2G technology, focusing on different perspectives—such as those of users, vehicles, infrastructures, and the electricity grid. This study will also explore ex ante, ex post, and ongoing assessment studies, alongside the experiences of pioneer cities in implementing V2G.

This paper proposes the assessment of the impacts of using electric vehicles for urban service trips. In particular, the focus is on trips performed for delivering and installing products, as well as for reverse logistics. Such components of commercial traffic in urban areas have not received the level of attention it deserves. In fact, recent research on commercial traffic mainly deals with shop restocking, service visits to establishments and e-commerce deliveries, and limited attention has been paid to the service sector (e.g., installation, maintenance, repairs) which can have a high impact on city sustainability in terms of pollution emissions, congestion as well as land use for parking. Furthermore, pushed by the current trend towards the promotion of electric vehicles, an assessment is developed comparing potential service patterns using real data from the inner area of Rome (Italy) when the electric fleet replaces the traditional one. Results show the opportunity to decouple the delivery operation from the installation one, and to integrate service with reverse logistics. These significant results could address the adoption of suitable integrated urban policies to make the most of the opportunities arising from the use of electric vehicles.

The development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure plays a strategic role in enabling the decarbonization of the transport sector, especially along major freight and passenger corridors such as the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Despite the growing interest in hydrogen mobility, existing methodologies for the optimal location of hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) remain fragmented and often overlook operational dynamics. Following a review of the existing literature on HRS location models and approaches, this study highlights key methodological gaps that hinder effective infrastructure planning. In response, a two-stage framework is proposed, combining a flow-based location model with a stochastic queueing approach to determine both the optimal placement of HRS and the number of dispensers required at each site. The method is applied to a real segment of the TEN-T network in Northern Italy. The results demonstrate the flexibility of the model in accommodating different hydrogen vehicle penetration scenarios and its utility as a decision-support tool for public authorities and infrastructure planners.

This article investigates the feasibility of hydrogen-based retrofitting solutions for light commercial vehicles operating in urban freight transport. The analysis is based on a mission-driven methodology applied to a representative urban case study in the city of Rome, using synthetic route profiles and vehicle specifications derived from manufacturer datasheets. Three representative urban delivery missions are defined, characterised by cumulative daily distances of approximately 190–200 km and associated energy requirements in the range of 54–57 kWh. These mission profiles are first used to assess a commercially representative battery electric vehicle configuration, for which the usable onboard battery energy is estimated at 41.6 kWh. The results show that, under the considered operating conditions, the battery electric configuration is not able to complete the planned routes without intermediate recharging. On this basis, a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle retrofit configuration is evaluated, combining a 35 kWh battery, a 45 kW fuel cell system and 3.5 kg of onboard hydrogen storage at 350 bar. The resulting estimated driving range is approximately 293 km, which is sufficient to satisfy the defined mission requirements. This study is framed as a technical feasibility assessment and does not aim to provide optimisation or experimental validation. The proposed methodology can be applied to other urban contexts by adapting route characteristics and daily mileage requirements.

Urban freight and service operations represent a critical challenge for cities, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, and competition for curb space. In addition to parcel deliveries, many service trips combine transport with installation, maintenance, or packaging recovery, generating long vehicle dwell times and inefficient use of public space. This paper investigates alternative operational scenarios for such activities, evaluating technological and organizational options that can reduce their environmental and spatial impacts. The study compares a diesel LCV baseline with four zero-emission configurations: battery electric LCVs; battery electric LCVs integrated with micro-hubs and cargo e-bikes; hydrogen fuel cell LCVs for long-range operations, and hydrogen fuel cell LCVs combined with cargo e-bikes via micro-hubs. The methodological framework is based on a vehicle routing problem (VRP) formulation supported by empirical data from Rome. It integrates indicators of energy use, carbon emissions, and curb-side occupation, and it includes the spatial representation of routes on urban and inter-urban maps to highlight operational differences across the five scenarios. Results indicate that zero-emission vehicles can eliminate tailpipe emissions, while logistics reorganization through decoupling improves the use of public space and enables the recovery of packaging materials. Battery solutions appear best suited to short and medium distances, whereas hydrogen is advantageous for longer routes. Overall, the study shows that combining technological and organizational measures provides a robust pathway toward sustainable logistics and more efficient service operations in metropolitan contexts.