Analysis of modern trends in vehicle life cycle assessment

Abstract

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). Currently, there are new vehicle power units actively evolving and being more and more extensively applied that are primarily based on electric and hydrogen technologies ensuring reduction of greenhouse gas emissions when in operation. However, to comprehensively evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the new technologies they require integrated assessment within the life cycle. The global community, minding the importance of this problem, has come to the need of development of a harmonized methodology for assessment of a vehicle carbon footprint within the life cycle.The purpose of the study is to review the modern trends when assessing the vehicle carbon footprint within the life cycle based on the analysis of activities of the Automotive – Life Cycle Assessment (A-LCA) Informal Working Group within the official Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) within the operation of the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29).Methodology and research methods. The method of analysis of published documents and reports presented at the sessions of the Automotive – Life Cycle Assessment (A-LCA) Informal Working Group has been used. Scientific novelty and results. The paper contains the results of analysis of modern approaches and trends in vehicle life cycle assessment. Practical significance. The analysis results will help understanding the key issues in vehicle life cycle assessment and improving methodologies applied in the Russian Federation.