Automotive Electrification Challenges Shown by Real-World Driving Data and Lifecycle Assessment

Abstract

Electric mobility is considered a solution to reduce carbon emissions. We expanded a lifecycle assessment with data on technical limitations and driving habits (based on real-world data) in order to identify the environmentally optimal drivetrain for each individual driving behavior with current and projected technologies, focusing on CO2 emissions. By combining all data, an environmentally optimal European drivetrain mix is calculated, which is dominated by fuel-cell electric vehicles (50% in 2020, 47% in 2030), followed by plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (37%, 40%), battery-electric vehicles (BEV) (5%, 12%), and Diesel vehicles (2%, 1%). Driving behavior defines the most environmental drivetrain and the coexistence of different drivetrains is currently still necessary. Such information is crucial to identify limitations and unmet technological needs for full electrification. If range is not considered a limitation, the environmentally optimal drivetrain mix is dominated by BEVs (71%, 75%), followed by fuel cell electric vehicles (25%, 19%) and plug-in electric vehicles (4%, 6%). This confirms the potential environmental benefits of BEVs for current and future transportation. Developments in battery energy density, charging, and sustainable production, as well as a change in driving behavior, will be crucial to make BEVs the environmentally optimal drivetrain choice.

Sustainable and smart mobility – research directions. A systematic literature review

“…The use of electric vehicles has been positively received by the market, consumers and governments, making them increasingly popular in European societies (Zagorskas & Burinskiene, 2020). The literature also contains articles on the design of energy-efficient powertrains involving optimisation of components, systems and controls (Ehsani et al, 2021;Neidhardt et al, 2022).…”

Predictive sustainability analysis applied to an automotive design case study.

“…In support of these principles, customized tools can be found in literature that assess the sustainability of solutions selected by the designer [6]. More specifical ly, the attention to green solutions is heavily focused on vehicle electrification [7]. Numerous articles can be found that highlight the sustainability of electric vehicles compared to internal combustion cars.…”