Comparative environmental assessment of alternative fueled vehicles using a life cycle assessment

Abstract

Many new vehicle technologies are claiming to be the best in class to reduce the impact on the environment. However what are ‘green’ or ‘clean’ vehicles? How can this be assessed in the appropriate scientific way? The underling assessment compares the environmental aspects of mainly compressed natural gas (CNG) and Battery electric vehicles, along with Liquid Petrol Gas (LPG), Biogas (BG), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and conventional diesel and petrol vehicles. As an example and context the Brussels Capital region, the centre of Belgium as well as the capital of Europe, has been chosen. The methodology is based on a comparative environmental assessment of vehicle technologies using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. However, a special focus is given on the potential of battery electric vehicles to reduce (or increase) the transport related emissions in the Brussels capital region. The results will answer following research questions. What are the environmental impacts (climate change and urban air quality) of these ‘clean’ vehicle technologies compared to conventional vehicles, considering the full life cycle? What is the impact of the electricity production on the total life cycle environmental performance of electric vehicle and how does the type of energy source, to produce electricity, influences the impact? What are the life cycle environmental impacts of battery technologies used in BEVs? What is the effect of BEV charging patterns on the durability of batteries? What are the effects of real world driving styles and charging patterns (peak or off-peak) on the environmental performance of BEVs and PHEVs?