The electrification of transportation is a key development for society because of its impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. The economic appeal of electric vehicles has continuously increased with the rapid decline in battery prices over the past several years, with average prices of less than $200/kWh in 2018, and projected future prices of less than $50/kWh. With reduced battery prices, electric cars and electric bikes will become attractive options for those looking for inexpensive transportation. In 2018, the number of EVs in service (cars, buses, and trucks) increased to more than 5 million, with a large fraction of these being in China. There were more than 100 million electric bicycles in service in 2018, with more than 60% of these being in China. Electric buses have significant air quality benefits which have helped to justify their purchase in China, in California, and in major cities like London and elsewhere. Norway currently leads the world in this transition, with about 40% of new car sales being EVs in 2018. EVs that can be charged with renewable electricity also have the capability to store energy and provide benefits to grid operators and managers.

Transportation has been one of the significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is very important because of the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the global impacts of increases in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. Progress on the electrification of transportation is reviewed with the inclusion of cars, trucks, buses, bikes, scooters, and tractors. Because of the need to balance supply and demand on the electrical grid, ideas on how to include EVs in grid management are included. Batteries for EVs and the grid include battery swapping concepts and battery charging based on demand management.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

The simple, accurate, and rapid detection of foodborne pathogens is essential for public health. Development of an immunomagnetic separation (IMS) multiplex touchdown PCR (IMS–multiplex TD–PCR) assay for simultaneous detection and distinguishing of C. jejuni and C. coli is reported herein. Polyclonal antibody (pAb) against multiepitope antigen (MEA) was conjugated to ferromagnetic nanoparticles (FMNs) to produce anti‐MEA FMNs. Optimal anti‐MEA FMNs loading yielded 26.7 μ g of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules per mg of FMNs with an average size of 72 ± 9 nm, corresponding to an 83% rate of pAb conjugation. Anti‐MEA FMNs (20 μ g) for IMS captured culturable C. jejuni cells at 3.54 × 10 2 colony‐forming unit (CFU)/mL in pure culture, while higher amounts (40 and 60 μ g) reduced the recovery. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed the attachment of anti‐MEA FMNs to target bacteria, forming aggregated cells and magnetic nanoparticles in ellipse‐like shapes. The subsequent multiplex TD–PCR assay simultaneously detected and distinguished C. jejuni and C. coli at 10 4 CFU/mL in mixed culture and at 10 3 CFU/mL for each individual species. Furthermore, the limit of detection (LOD) of the IMS–multiplex TD–PCR assay was 10 4 CFU/g in spiked chicken breast samples. Specificity was 100% for both C. jejuni and C. coli as none of the amplicons were detected in control samples where Campylobacter was absent. This assay is able to detect and distinguish C. jejuni and C. coli simultaneously and is simple, accurate, and rapid with a time to result of 4 h without an enrichment step, making it a promising approach for rapid and culture‐free detection of Campylobacter in chicken products.

Military activities can contaminate productive land with potentially toxic substances. The most common trace metal contaminant on military bases is lead (Pb). A field experiment was begun in 2016 at Fort Riley, KS, in an area with total soil Pb concentrations ranging from 900 to 1,500 mg kg-1 and near-neutral pH. The main objectives were to test the potential of Miscanthus sp. for phytostabilization of the site and to evaluate the effects of soil amendments on Miscanthus growth, soil-plant Pb transfer, bioaccessibility of soil Pb, and soil health. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with five treatments and four replications. Treatments were (a) existing vegetation; (b) Miscanthus planted in untilled soil, no amendments; (c) Miscanthus planted in tilled soil; (d) Miscanthus planted in tilled soil amended with inorganic P (triple superphosphate applied at 5:3 Pb:P); and (e) Miscanthus planted in tilled soil amended with organic P (Class B biosolids applied at 45 Mg ha-1 ). Tilling and soil amendments increased dry matter yields only in the establishment year. Total Pb uptake, plant tissue Pb concentration, and soil Pb bioaccessibility were significantly less in the Miscanthus plots amended with biosolids than the Miscanthus plots with no added P across all 3 yr. Enzyme activities, organic carbon, and microbial biomass were also greater in biosolids-treated plots. Results show that planting-time addition of soil amendments to Pb-contaminated soil supported Miscanthus establishment, stabilized and reduced bioaccessibility of soil Pb, reduced concentration and uptake of Pb by Miscanthus, and enhanced soil health parameters.

The economics associated with phytotechnologies includes environmental, social, and ecosystem costs and benefits associated with the project. There are local costs and benefits associated with the site as well as global benefits because of carbon sequestration. Improvements in soil quality have long-term benefits and increase the value of the land. Risk reduction has health and safety benefits as well as improved value for the land. For many contaminated sites, there are many benefits associated with phytoremediation with biomass production that have value for society such as improved aesthetic values, better conditions for wildlife, employment benefits because of the project, and better quality of life in the community. While it would be great if the biomass produced would fully cover project costs, this should not be expected. One of the most important benefits associated with phytotechnologies is the addition of soil organic matter and the associated improvements in the health of the biological populations that are beneficial to plant productivity. The economics of phytoremediation with biomass production using Miscanthus is included in this chapter.

The cost of solar-generated electricity and battery costs have been decreasing significantly. These developments can be combined to introduce solar-powered charging networks with demand management prices (DMP) to enable electric vehicle (EV) customers to help utilities to manage renewable energy. As solar-generated electricity becomes the cheapest source of power, the need to increase demand for electricity during the day can be met by charging EVs at an attractive DMP in parking lots with solar panels and charging stations that are connected to the electrical grid. The demand for electricity can be managed and controlled by the utility with the goal of increasing demand for power as needed so that all electricity that is generated can be sold. The proposal is to introduce a new DMP rate that is only implemented when the utility wants to increase demand and sell power at this low rate in order to make full use of the supply. As utilities strive to reach 100% renewable electrical power to serve a society transported by EVs, cooperative plans to make good use of batteries in EVs for managing the electrical grid will become more important.

The transformation and biodegradation of organic contaminants in soils with plants occur in plants as well as in soil. Microorganisms have the ability to biodegrade many compounds and microbial populations are larger when plants are present because of root exudates. In this chapter, petroleum compounds, explosives, solvents, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants are included. Miscanthus, trees, and many other plants have important phytoremediation applications to organic contaminants. Phytoremediation studies with Miscanthus show that tolerance to organic contaminants is good and that Miscanthus is an effective plant for phytoremediation. Positive biodegradation results are reported with hemp, which is another plant with commercial value. Because of the importance to NATO, phytoremediation research progress with explosives is an important part of this chapter. There has been good research progress in phytoremediation applications with poplar trees where polychlorinated biphenyls have been investigated. Some recent phytoremediation advances with dioxins are included. Recent phytoremediation results with Miscanthus growing in pesticide-contaminated soil show that Miscanthus is able to grow in soils where mixtures of chlorinated pesticides are present.