Abstract
The mobility sector must reduce its carbon footprint over the vehicle life cycle, including production, usage, and recycling. The carbon footprint of vehicle usage varies with the mileage and the profile, urban or highway, and the carbon intensity of the energy source, emphasizing regional specificities: biofuels and the renewability of the electrical matrix. Battery-electric vehicles offer higher energy efficiencies, making passenger fleet electrification an effective way to reduce energy demand. However, transitioning to electric vehicles is challenging due to high costs and the required recharging infrastructure. We compared the life-cycle simulations of a conventional passenger car to its fully electrified or hybrid version. We found that the carbon footprint of a battery-electric vehicle is more than five times that of a conventional internal combustion-vehicle. Depending on the considered boundary conditions, the desired CO2e breakeven of a battery electric vehicle could not be achieved. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive and specific analysis of each country is crucial to optimize solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We analyzed the specificities of the USA, China, EU, and Brazil. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the challenges and opportunities and hopes to inform policy-makers to choose paths that reduce greenhouse gas emissions properly.
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