Towards net-zero global emissions by 2050, the automotive sector is an important factor. The industry has set aggressive decarbonization targets. These targets include the use of renewable fuels and a focus on electrification of vehicles. Electrification is seen as the most effective way to decrease GHG emissions. However, achieving zero emissions in the automotive sector will require a comprehensive overhaul of the industry. It will also require a significant shift in the energy mix.
The European Commission has recently proposed amendments to automotive CO2 emission legislation that will ensure a clear pathway to zero-emission mobility by 2025. This proposal includes the use of renewable fuels and plug-in hybrid vehicles. However, the definition of zero emissions carries a risk of reaching near-zero emissions on paper. The study compared life cycle GHG emissions between a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and an ICEV, with various combinations of electricity, fuels and powertrains. These results were compared to the 95 g/km CO2 emissions limit that applies to the European fleet. Failing to meet this limit will incur fines for the vehicle manufacturer.
In the baseline scenario, the EC based its LCA on the EU-28 electricity mix. This mix is used to calculate the GHG intensity of the electricity used for charging and driving. The EC modelled two electricity mix scenarios. The EC's scenario, Tech1.5, accounts for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degC. This scenario also assumes that vehicle manufacturers continue to build vehicles with fossil fuels, albeit in lower volumes. Click to read more about automotive decarbonization.
The EC also compared life cycle GHG emissions from vehicles with various combinations of fuels and powertrains. This method, known as a life cycle assessment (LCA), is a good tool for comparing the environmental impacts of various technologies. However, it does not provide detailed information about individual vehicles. In the case of the Kia Niro 2020 LCA, the average GHG emissions are estimated using a combination of manufacturer's vehicle specification and typical data in the literature. In the end, the resulting estimates of GHG emissions from the Kia Niro 2020 LCA are not very detailed. Nonetheless, the results are comparable to those from a life cycle assessment of an ICEV.
The study also found that the use of renewable bio-based materials is crucial to automotive decarbonization. The study estimated that, by 2040, material emissions will make up more than 60 percent of life cycle GHG emissions. This is in contrast to the 18 percent that are estimated today. The study found that, by 2030, these emissions could be abated cost-effectively. This is achieved through the use of recycled materials, such as aluminum and plastics, and by adopting new smelting technologies. The study also found that the use of recycled aluminum could decrease emissions by up to 73 percent. Find out more about this firm here: https://derivevq.com/.
The study also found that the use and adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will have a significant impact on automotive decarbonization. The use of hydrogen fuel cells is particularly important for heavy-duty vehicles. The energy density of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is much higher than that of batteries. However, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been slow to come to market, due to high manufacturing costs. As hydrogen fuel cell technology develops, its adoption should increase. To understand more about this subject, please read a related post here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_economy_in_automobiles.