The life-cycle impacts of aluminum body-in-white automotive material

Environmental Evaluation of New Generation Vehicles and Vehicle Components

“…Like a previous assessment (Das et al 2000), this assessment shows that the total waste stream of each of the 3XVs is greater than that of the baseline vehicle. Total waste increases range from 60% to 82%.…”

“…This study estimates the total waste stream and categorizes it by type of waste. It builds upon previous lifecycle analysis work (Das et al 2000) that showed that more than 75% of the 3XVs' lifetime solid waste generation occurred in the E&MP stage. This previous work did not characterize the waste stream by type of solid waste.…”

“…Life-cycle analysis of two of the 3XV prototypes found that emissions of greenhouse gases (CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O, SF 6 , CF 4 , and C 2 F 6 ), particulate matter, and NOx would all increase during the extraction and materials processing life-cycle stage and decrease during the use (fuel use) stage if low emission vehicle or ultra-low emission vehicle (LEV/ULEV) standards are met (Das et al 2000). This pattern suggests a potential for impacts in vehicle use areas (the United States) to decrease, while impacts in materials production areas (foreign countries) could increase.…”

“…Other issues addressed in previous work include the effect of new vehicle types on the existing automotive recycling and vehicle use and repair infrastructures, and consumer acceptability of the new vehicles. (Das et al 1997(Das et al , 1999(Das et al , 2000.…”

Program Evaluation - Automotive Lightweighting Materials Program Research and Development Projects Assessment of Benefits - Case Studies No. 2

“…The forecast period under consideration will affect the estimated benefits, and it is particularly important in the case of two aluminum-related projects as more use phase benefits are realized later in the forecast period with a greater number of lightweight vehicles in the vehicle fleet. A recent study indicates that aluminum-intensive vehicles containing aluminum sheets takes more than 15 years to achieve life-cycle equivalence emissions at the fleet level with conventional steel vehicles (Das, 2000). Table 4.12 contains social benefit-cost ratios for the projects.…”