Well-to-wheel climate performance of gas and electric vehicles in Europe

Focusing on tailpipe emissions, current EU policies do not favor the use of biofuels in transports. This paper analyzes the well-to-wheel climate performance of gas and electric vehicles in Europe, taking into account the share of biomethane in vehicle gas as well as the production systems for biomethane and electricity in different countries. The results show that both gas and electric vehicles can significantly reduce the climate change impact of transports compared to diesel. In an average European electricity system, electricity has around 30% lower climate impact than diesel for a heavy truck, and 65–70% lower for a passenger car or city bus. Average European vehicle gas reduces the climate impact by up to 28% compared to diesel, or 11% compared to fossil natural gas, and in some countries vehicle gas has lower climate impact than electricity. This demonstrates the importance of not limiting analysis and policy to tailpipe emissions.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.102911
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920921002108
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13619209
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2021 Marcus Gustafsson et al. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Gustafsson, Marcus
  • Svensson, Niclas
  • Eklund, Mats
  • Möller, Björn Fredriksson
• Publication Date: 2021-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 102911
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1361-9209
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biomass fuels; Electric vehicles; Environmental impacts; Gasoline; Greenhouse gases
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01782812
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 24 2021 10:21AM