A global comparison of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of combustion engine and electric passenger cars

The author performed a life-cycle assessment (LCA) examining greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from automobiles in China, Europe, India, and the United States, the regions where about 70% of new automobile sales occur. The author took into account present and projected GHG emissions at each stage in the life cycles of vehicles and fuels. All powertrain types, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel types including biofuels, hydrogen, and electricity, were considered. The life-cycle GHG emissions of automobiles registered in 2021 were compared with those expected to be registered in 2030. This study differs from earlier LCA literature in four key respects: 1) It considers the lifetime average carbon intensity of the fuel and electricity mixes, including biofuels and biogas, and accounts for changes in the carbon intensity during the lifetime of the vehicles; 2) It considers the real-world fuel and electricity consumption instead of relying on official test values, which is particularly important for assessing PHEV emissions; 3) It uses recent data on battery production and supply chains; 4) It includes the near-future global warming from methane leakage from natural gas and hydrogen fuels derived from natural gas. The results demonstrate that for vehicles registered in 2021, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have the lowest life-cycle GHG emissions. Already, emissions over the lifetime of medium-size BEVs registered in 2021 are lower than those from internal combustion vehicles. As electricity/gasoline fuel mixes continue to decarbonize, the gap between BEV and gasoline vehicle life-cycle emissions greatly increases when taking into account the medium-size automobiles projected to be registered in 2030.

• Record URL:
  https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/Global-LCA-passenger-cars-jul2021_0.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://theicct.org/publications/global-LCA-passenger-cars-jul2021
• Corporate Authors:

  International Council on Clean Transportation Europe

  Berlin,   Germany  10178

  International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)

  1500 K Street NW, Suite 650
  Washington, DC  United States  20005
• Authors:
  • Bieker, Georg
• Publication Date: 2021-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: White Paper
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 86p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric automobiles; Exhaust gases; Forecasting; Greenhouse gases; Internal combustion engines; Life cycle analysis
• Geographic Terms: China; Europe; India; United States
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01782379
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 22 2021 12:03PM