RefuelingZeiten

RefuelingZeiten is a concept used in energy and transport planning to describe the time required to replenish energy in a vehicle or system. It encompasses refueling for liquid fuels, charging for electric propulsion, and fueling for hydrogen, and is concerned with how replenishment time interacts with range, throughput, and scheduling in mobility networks. By focusing on refueling time alongside energy density and efficiency, it provides a fuller picture of system performance.

Origin and usage: The term is encountered in German-language discussions of energy logistics and is used across disciplines such as transport planning, fleet management, and infrastructure design. Refueling time is defined as the duration from the start of a replenishment event until the target energy level is reached or the vehicle can resume operation.

Factors: charger power, battery capacity, state of charge, charging strategy, thermal management, connector standards, station availability, and user behavior.

Implications: High-power charging or more efficient hydrogen fueling reduces downtime and improves fleet throughput, but raises grid strain, equipment costs, and potential wear. For fleets, scheduling and depot operating hours shape routing and availability; for passenger travel, refueling times influence trip planning and mode choice.

Comparison across energy carriers: Liquid fuels offer fast replenishment in practice but infrastructure and emissions considerations; electric charging continues to shorten as technology advances; hydrogen fueling aims to combine rapid replenishment with energy density, though it faces cost and distribution challenges.

See also: charging infrastructure, energy density, fleet management, hydrogen economy.