Study of hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles based on the whole life cycle evaluation method

Ping Guo,Baoliang Zhang,Jianlun Xu,Chuanhao Zhao

doi:10.17737/tre.2022.8.1.00135

Abstract

In order to better achieve the goal of low carbon emissions from vehicles, a whole life cycle assessment of hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine vehicles has been conducted in recent years. Based on the study of hydrogen use around the world, we studied the emission and economic performance of hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine vehicles from the beginning of hydrogen production to the end of use (Well-to-Wheel, WTW) based on the whole life cycle evaluation method. The results show that the overall environmental impact of hydrogen production by steam reforming of natural gas is the smallest, and that the rational use of "abandoned electricity" for hydrogen production from electrolytic water in the western part of China significantly reduces the overall environmental impact and the cost of hydrogen production. In the use phase, the emissions are less, which not only can meet the National 6 emission standard, but also can reach higher emission standard after adding exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). From the whole life cycle point of view, hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine has a very good development prospect.

Highlights

By 2020, the number of cars in China has reached 281 million [1], which results in the problem of pollutant emissions and energy consumption
A comprehensive evaluation of new energy vehicles fueled by hydrogen is conducted from the whole life cycle of the energy source
Lin et al [3] used the GREET model to comprehensively evaluate the CO2 emissions of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles under various routes of hydrogen fuel production and concluded that the energy consumption and CO2 emissions could be reduced by 90% under the clean way of hydrogen production

Summary

Introduction

By 2020, the number of cars in China has reached 281 million [1], which results in the problem of pollutant emissions and energy consumption. Daniele et al [7] evaluated the life-cycle performance of three different types of vehicles based on wind power electrolysis of water for hydrogen production and the results showed that hydrogen fuel is an excellent decarbonization solution. Both Dong et al [8] and Huang et al [9] performed life cycle analysis of the environmental impact of fuel cell vehicle energy under different fossil fuel-based hydrogen fuel paths. There are no reports on the life cycle of hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine vehicles in China, and few studies have been done by other countries. The study of the whole life cycle of hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines reveals the application prospects of hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines, and makes the evaluation of hydrogen fuel in vehicles more comprehensive

Research Methods and Contents

Findings

CONCLUSIONS