WIR SCHAFFEN WISSEN – HEUTE FÜR MORGEN

The environmental performance of current & future passenger vehicles

B. Cox, C. Mutel, Christian Bauer :: Energy Systems Analysis :: Paul Scherrer Institut

ETSAP workshop, ETHZ, December 12, 2017

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Why decarbonization of passenger vehicles?

G. Georges, after BAFU & BFS 2017

Mobility sector in Switzerland: sector with highest CO2 emissions

46% of national emissions (incl. aviation) in 2015

sector with highest consumption of final energy 36% of national consumption in 2015

almost entirely dependent on oil 95% of mobility related energy consumption was oil-based in 2015

-3- G. Georges, after BAFU 2017

Why decarbonization of passenger vehicles? An

nual

CO

2 em

issi

ons

(dire

ct) [

Mt/

year

]

mobility (incl. aviation)

households

industry

service sector

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Life Cycle Assessment - LCA

LCA is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life cycle from-cradle-to-grave, i.e., from raw material extraction through

materials processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling.

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Life Cycle Assessment - LCA

«Background» LCA data

Materials, fuels, energy supply, transport, infrastructure, disposal,…

Zero emission ? Environmental impacts?

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Procedure for consistent vehicle assessment

Hofer 2014 -7-

LCA of passenger vehicles: acronyms

ICEV: Internal combustion engine vehicle

HEV: Hybrid electric vehicle

BEV: Battery electric vehicle

FCEV: Fuel cell electric vehicle

-p: petrol as fuel

-d: diesel as fuel

-g: compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel

P2G: Power-to-Gas

SMR: Hydrogen from «Steam Methane Reforming» of natural gas

CH (electricity): average electricity supply in Switzerland

BAU: Business As Usual

NEP: New Energy Policy -8-

Energy consumption: vehicle operation

Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary -9-

LCA results: GHG emissions today

-10- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

LCA results: GHG emissions ~2040

-11- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

LCA results: particulate matter today

-12- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

LCA results: particulate matter ~2040

-13- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

LCA results: «summer smog» today

-14- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

LCA results: «summer smog» ~2040

-15- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

LCA results: lifetime distance vs GHG emissions

-16- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

LCA results: impact of CO2 intensity

-17- Cox et al., 2018 – preliminary

Main uncertainties & limitations in LCA

Location-specific assessment of health impacts

Emissions of pollutants from ICEV (NOx, PM, etc.)

Batteries & fuel cells: lifetime, manufacturing chain, future technology development

Effects of large scale implementation of BEV & FCV

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Take home messages

BEV & FCV only provide environmental benefits with electricity and H2 from renewable sources

GHG emissions of BEV & FCV can be up to 70% lower than those of ICEV (using hydro or wind power)

Other burdens: ambiguous LCA results, also with «clean» electricity and H2, due to:

• burdens from battery and FC manufacturing

• inefficient hydrogen supply chain

Short-term: Natural gas vehicles show largest potential for reduction of impacts

Long-term: electric vehicles need:

• Enough clean electricity

• Recycling strategies for batteries and fuel cells

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Thanks to: • Brian Cox • Chris Mutel

Contact: christian.bauer@psi.ch https://www.psi.ch/ta/

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