Transport biofuels technological paradigm based conversion approaches towards a bio-electric energy framework

Highlights: • A data-driven system approach was developed for visualization analysis. • A transport biofuel technological paradigm (TBTP) is proposed. • Further electric energy trends were discovered through a DAS trend analysis. • Indirect e-bio fuel cell and direct bioelectricity assist in electric energy conversion. • The paradigm shift exits the biofuel paradigm to a bio-electric energy paradigm. - Abstract: The continuing dependence on fossil fuels and the rising energy use in the transport sector have resulted in increased research into viable transport biofuels to mitigate climate change and improve energy security. As transport biofuels now only have a small share of the transport sector energy supply and the complexity in providing the fuels because of issues related to available land and food security, this paper develops conversion path solutions for transport biofuel development based on a technological paradigm study. A data-driven approaches system (DAS) that combines visualization analyses with technological paradigm theory is proposed to reveal the key areas and trends in transport biofuels. Timeline, timezones, and cluster visualizations identified the transport biofuel technological paradigm (TBTP) from current transport biofuel developments; a pre-shift phase (including TBTP competition and TBTP diffusion) and a shift phase (TBTP shift), which respectively relate to conventional biofuels, advanced biofuels, and biofuel cells. However, from further DAS trend analyses and the practical findings, electric energy trends were revealed, indicating that there was a paradigm shift from the biofuel paradigm to a bio-electric energy paradigm. From the developed bio-electric energy framework, both indirect and direct methods were found to have led to an this electric energy conversion to an e-bio fuel cell vehicle for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and bioelectricity for electric vehicles (EV), both of which can contribute to a low-carbon, sustainable transportation future.