Abstract
Several environmental vehicle rating tools have been developed in order to promote the purchase and the use of greener cars. However those were developed/applied at a regional/country specific level. There is a need to develop a broader methodology that can be applied in a multi-country perspective for the assessment of the environmental rating of vehicles with alternative types of fuels as well as different types of drivetrain, such as electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell hybrid. The environmental indicators usually relates to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), air pollutants emissions (HC, CO, NOx, PM, SOx) and noise levels. US rating methodology developed by ACEEE is guided by Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), but disregards noise impacts (scores vehicles from zero to 100 (best)). EcoScore Belgian methodology adopts a LCA perspective, disregarding the materials of vehicle impact, but giving some importance to the noise impact (scores from zero to 100(best)). The German Verkehrsclub Deutschland's (VCD) current rating system does not purport to be an LCA, and it has been modified based on evolving views about the importance of various automobile impacts. VCD scores from 0 to 10 (best). It considers impacts in nature both from CO2 (vehicle manufacturer information) and pollutants (European Standards), in human health from pollutants, also considers noise. Australian Green Vehicle Guide (GVG) rating methodology considers only usage stage, giving zero to 10(best) points to GHG and air pollutants, disregarding noise. The overall rating is based on the sum of the air pollution and greenhouse ratings (zero to five star (best)). For the vehicle in-use emissions usually a non-realistic, standard, driving cycle is used and again differs from country to country, despite aiming at representing urban and extra-urban driving.This paper presents the application of the revised methodologies to existent alternative vehicle technologies, pure electric vehicle (Nissan Leaf), gasoline hybrid (Toyota Prius), plug-in hybrid (Toyota Prius), conventional gasoline (VW Beetle TSI), conventional diesel (VW Golf 2.0 Bluemotion), where the urban and extra-urban driving is considered in the same fashion at a multi-country level. Preliminary results of the methodologies rank highly Honda FCX Clarity and Nissan Leaf. Conventional vehicles occupy bottom places in the rankings. The influence of the driving cycles is discussed.
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