Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Analysis of U.S. Light Duty Vehicle-Fuel Pathways: A Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Economic Assessment of Current (2015) and Future (2025-2030) Technologies

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1254857· OSTI ID:1254857

Elgowainy, Amgad ^[1]; Han, Jeongwoo ^[1]; Ward, Jacob ^[1]; Joseck, Fred ^[1]; Gohlke, David ^[1]; Lindauer, Alicia ^[1]; Ramsden, Todd ^[2]; Biddy, Mary ^[2]; Alexander, Marcus ^[3]; Barnhart, Steven ^[4]; Sutherland, Ian ^[5]; Verduzco, Laura ^[6]; Wallington, Timothy ^[7]

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1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
3. Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA (United States)
4. FCA US LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (United States)
5. General Motors, Flint, MI (United States)
6. Chevron Corp., San Ramon, CA (United States)
7. Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI (United States)

This study provides a comprehensive lifecycle analysis (LCA), or cradle-to-grave (C2G) analysis, of the cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a variety of vehicle-fuel pathways, as well as the levelized cost of driving (LCD) and cost of avoided GHG emissions. This study also estimates the technology readiness levels (TRLs) of key fuel and vehicle technologies along the pathways. The C2G analysis spans a full portfolio of midsize light-duty vehicles (LDVs), including conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). In evaluating the vehicle-fuel combinations, this study considers both low-volume and high-volume “CURRENT TECHNOLOGY” cases (nominally 2015) and a high-volume “FUTURE TECHNOLOGY” lower-carbon case (nominally 2025–2030). For the CURRENT TECHNOLOGY case, low-volume vehicle and fuel production pathways are examined to determine costs in the near term.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1254857
• Report Number(s): ANL/ESD-16/7; 127895
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY