Language:

Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Electric Vehicles

Journal of industrial ecology, 2013-02, Vol.17 (1), p.53-64 [Peer Reviewed Journal]

2012 by Yale University ;2014 INIST-CNRS ;2013, Yale University ;ISSN: 1088-1980 ;EISSN: 1530-9290 ;DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00532.x

Full text available

Citations Cited by

Actions
1. Add to My Research
2. Remove from My Research
3. E-mail
4. Print
5. Permalink
6. Citation
7. EasyBib
8. EndNote
9. RefWorks
10. Delicious
11. Export RIS
12. Export BibTeX

Title:
Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Electric Vehicles
Author: Hawkins, Troy R. ; Singh, Bhawna ; Majeau-Bettez, Guillaume ; Strømman, Anders Hammer
Subjects: Air pollution ; Alternative fuel vehicles ; Animal, plant and microbial ecology ; Applied ecology ; batteries ; Benefits ; Biological and medical sciences ; Carbon emissions ; Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change ; Decision making ; Earth, ocean, space ; Electric power ; Electric vehicles ; Electricity ; electricity mix ; Energy consumption ; Environment ; Environment and sustainable development ; Environmental impact ; Europe ; Exact sciences and technology ; External geophysics ; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology ; Global warming ; Greenhouse effect ; industrial ecology ; Infrastructure ; Inventory ; life cycle inventory (LCI) ; Life cycles ; Metals ; Meteorology ; Product life cycle ; Production ; Studies ; Transportation ; Vehicle emissions
Is Part Of: Journal of industrial ecology, 2013-02, Vol.17 (1), p.53-64
Description: Summary Electric vehicles (EVs) coupled with low‐carbon electricity sources offer the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exposure to tailpipe emissions from personal transportation. In considering these benefits, it is important to address concerns of problem‐shifting. In addition, while many studies have focused on the use phase in comparing transportation options, vehicle production is also significant when comparing conventional and EVs. We develop and provide a transparent life cycle inventory of conventional and electric vehicles and apply our inventory to assess conventional and EVs over a range of impact categories. We find that EVs powered by the present European electricity mix offer a 10% to 24% decrease in global warming potential (GWP) relative to conventional diesel or gasoline vehicles assuming lifetimes of 150,000 km. However, EVs exhibit the potential for significant increases in human toxicity, freshwater eco‐toxicity, freshwater eutrophication, and metal depletion impacts, largely emanating from the vehicle supply chain. Results are sensitive to assumptions regarding electricity source, use phase energy consumption, vehicle lifetime, and battery replacement schedules. Because production impacts are more significant for EVs than conventional vehicles, assuming a vehicle lifetime of 200,000 km exaggerates the GWP benefits of EVs to 27% to 29% relative to gasoline vehicles or 17% to 20% relative to diesel. An assumption of 100,000 km decreases the benefit of EVs to 9% to 14% with respect to gasoline vehicles and results in impacts indistinguishable from those of a diesel vehicle. Improving the environmental profile of EVs requires engagement around reducing vehicle production supply chain impacts and promoting clean electricity sources in decision making regarding electricity infrastructure.
Publisher: Hoboken, NJ: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Language: English
Identifier: ISSN: 1088-1980
EISSN: 1530-9290
DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00532.x
Source: Alma/SFX Local Collection

Back to results list


INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY	(84-028) 37 755 057	Feedback
19 Nguyen Huu Tho St. Dist.7, HCM	thuvien@tdtu.edu.vn	Feedback

Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Electric Vehicles

2012 by Yale University ;2014 INIST-CNRS ;2013, Yale University ;ISSN: 1088-1980 ;EISSN: 1530-9290 ;DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00532.x

Searching Remote Databases, Please Wait