Comparative Analysis of Automotive Products Regarding the Influence of Eco-Friendly Methods to Emissions’ Reduction

Anca N Iuga (Butnariu),Luminița I Popa,Vasile N Popa

doi:10.3390/en12010006

Anca N Iuga (Butnariu), Luminița I Popa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en12010006

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Abstract

This article utilized a multicriterial quantitative and qualitative analysis of the influence of eco-friendly methods in reducing emissions over the life cycle of automotive products. The new proposed multicriterial method is applicable where preferential criteria are independent of each other, and where uncertainty has not been incorporated into a formal model. The linear model showed how the values of several criteria related to the options could be combined into an overall value. The main objective of this research was to apply a multicriterial methodology to improve the accuracy of existing approaches in identifying the influence of eco-friendly methods to reduce emissions over the product life cycle, and to assist decision makers in the manufacturing process. The research questions were as follows: Which one of two automotive products (“Bus” or “Truck”) has the best environmental performance (EPP)? Which one of two automotive products (“Bus” or “Truck”) has the best overall environmental performance (EPAPL)? This research provided a detailed comparative analysis of a “Crosstown bus” and a “Tractor truck”, both made at the Industrial Park Romania Brasov, Romania, using a multicriterial analysis. This article provided an answer to the first research question, whilst only presenting the results for the second question. The results of the proposed multicriterial method applications provide a decision support base for environmental managerial decisions in the field of automotive production processes.

Highlights

This paper uses multicriterial analysis as a new proactive environmental method in the automotive product development process, which aims to minimize the environmental impacts over the life cycles of automotive industry products’, thereby improving its environmental performance
The main objective of the current research was to apply an algorithm for a new comparative, multicriterial eco-friendly method to provide a decision support base for more environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly managerial decisions in the automotive production process
Our work demonstrated that the questions “Which one of two automotive products (“Bus” or “Truck”) has the best environmental performance (EPP)?

Summary

Introduction

This paper uses multicriterial analysis as a new proactive environmental method in the automotive product development process, which aims to minimize the environmental impacts over the life cycles of automotive industry products’, thereby improving its environmental performance. 1) “in order to meet the consumers demand of eco-friendly products, more sustainable production processes are under investigation in order to reduce the environmental burdens”. Environmental burdens are the emissions from automotive products. The authors suggested that: “Optimizing the process efficiency of aggregate production, improving the efficiency of the heavy equipment, or replacing the old machineries can reduce the carbon emissions due to power consumption.”. 1) concluded that “there is a strong focus on lowering the greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions in the automotive sector and related industries concerning innovation process.” The authors suggested that: “Optimizing the process efficiency of aggregate production, improving the efficiency of the heavy equipment, or replacing the old machineries can reduce the carbon emissions due to power consumption.” Morgadinho et al [3] (p. 1) concluded that “there is a strong focus on lowering the greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions in the automotive sector and related industries concerning innovation process.”

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