Fuel choices for fuel-cell vehicles : well-to-wheel energy and emission impacts.
Because of their high energy efficiencies and low emissions, fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) are undergoing extensive research and development. While hydrogen will likely be the ultimate fuel to power fuel-cell vehicles, because of current infrastructure constraints, hydrogen-carrying fuels are being investigated as transitional fuel-cell fuels. A complete well-to-wheels (WTW) evaluation of fuel-cell vehicle energy and emission effects that examines (1) energy feedstock recovery and transportation; (2) fuel production, transportation, and distribution; and (3) vehicle operation must be conducted to assist decision makers in selecting the fuel-cell fuels that achieve the greatest energy and emission benefits. A fuel-cycle model developed at Argonne National Laboratory--called the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model--was used to evaluate well-to-wheels energy and emission impacts of various fuel-cell fuels. The results show that different fuel-cell fuels can have significantly different energy and greenhouse gas emission effects. Therefore, if fuel-cell vehicles are to achieve the envisioned energy and emission reduction benefits, pathways for producing the fuels that power them must be carefully examined.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 949722
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/ES/JA-43712
- Journal Information:
- J. Power Sources, Journal Name: J. Power Sources Journal Issue: 1 ; Oct. 24, 2002 Vol. 112; ISSN JPSODZ; ISSN 0378-7753
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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