Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T08:04:34.291Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Towards time-resolved LCA of electric vehicles in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2014

B.M. Zimmermann ,
H. Dura  and
M. Weil
B.M. Zimmermann
Affiliation:
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, ITAS. e-mail: [email protected] Germany
H. Dura
Affiliation:
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, ITAS. e-mail: [email protected] Germany
M. Weil
Affiliation:
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, ITAS. e-mail: [email protected] Germany Helmholtz Institute Ulm – Electrochemical Energy Storage, HIU Germany
Get access

Abstract

Electric vehicles in Germany are expected to have an average lifetime of twelve years. During their long use-phase these vehicles rely on electricity from the power grid. A historic review shows that over the last twelve years the German electricity-mix has undergone a massive transition. Renewable energy sources are on the rise, while nuclear power is phased out. This trend is expected to continue. Since the environmental impacts of electric vehicles depend on the electricity-mix, this study performs a life cycle assessment that respects the transitions in the observed time-span. This study defines the new term “time-resolved LCA”, in contrast to conventional LCA- and dynamic LCA-methodology, as an LCA-approach which is based on statistical, time-resolved data. Time-resolved LCA aims at becoming a simple and feasible method to reduce model-uncertainty in LCA. The authors conclude that time-resolved LCA improves model-quality significantly. Most environmental impacts of electric vehicles decrease, when the more precise time-resolved approach is employed. Further implications of the new approach are outlined.

Keywords

Life Cycle Assessmenttime-resolved LCAdynamic LCAelectric vehiclegerman electricity mixenergy transitiontraction batteryuncertaintyenvironmental impacts
Type
Research Article
Information
Metallurgical Research & Technology , Volume 111 , Issue 3: Social Value of Materials (SAM 7) , 2014 , pp. 169 - 178
Copyright
© EDP Sciences 2014

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

R. Ball, N. Keers, A. Marcus, E. Bower, Mobile energy resources in grids of electricity Deliverable D2.1, 2011
Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, Fachartikel: Fahrzeugalter, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, 2011
AG Energiebilanzen e.V., Bruttostromer- zeugung in Deutschland von 1990 bis 2012 nach Energieträgern, 2012
T. Klaus, C. Vollmer, K. Werner, H. Lehmann, K. Müschen, Energy target 2050: 100% renewable electricity supply, Federal Environment Agency of Germany, Dessau-Roßlau, 2010
H. Dura, M. Weil, A. Aebi, Comparative LCA of an electric light weight and conventional vehicle in urban driving, Kopenhagen, 2012
P. Hofstetter, Perspectives in Life Cycle Impact Assessment – A structured approach to combine models of the technosphere, ecosphere and valuesphere, Dissertation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 1998
J. Reap, B. Bras, P.J. Newcomb, C. Carmichael, Improving life cycle assessment by including spatial, dynamic and place-based modeling, in Proceedings of DETC’03, Chicago, Illinois, 2003
Beukering, P.J.H., Janssen, M.A., J. Ind. Ecol. 4 (2000) 93–115
Chen, Y.-H., Yu, C.-C., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 40 (2001) 2452–2459
Miller, S.A., Moysey, S., Sharp, B., Alfaro, J., J. Ind. Ecol. 48 (2012) 526–536
Levasseur, A., Lesage, P., Margni, M., Deschênes, L., Samson, R., Environ. Sci. Technol. 44 (2010) 3169–3174
R.M. Bright, F. Cherubini, A.H. Strømman, Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. (2012)
Levasseur, A., Lesage, P., Margni, M., Samson, R., J. Ind. Ecol. 17 (2013) 117–128
Collinge, W.O., Landis, A.E., Jones, A.K., Schaefer, L.A., Bilec, M.M., Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 18 (2012) 538–552
Pehnt, M., Renew. Energ. 31 (2006) 55–71
M. Huijbregts, R. Van Zelm, Uncertainty in life cycle impact assessment: typologies, tools and a case of ecotoxicity, Zurich, 2012
A. Schneider, S. Carothers, Timeline: The 100-Year History Of The Electric Car, NPR, 2011 http://www.npr.org/2011/11/21/142365346/timeline-the-100-year-history-of-the-electric-car
J. Voelcker, 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV: First Drive Of Tesla-Powered Crossover, Green Car Reports, 2012. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1078181_2012 -toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-of-tesla-powered-crossover
T.J. Knipe, L. Gaillac, J. Argueta, 100 000-Mile Evaluation of the Toyota RAV4 EV. Southern California Edison, Electric Vehicle Technical Center
Panasonic EV Energy, PEV Battery for Pure Electric Vehicles, 1998
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Compare Side-by-Side, EPA Fuel Economy, 2013, http://www.fueleconomy.gov
Majeau-Bettez, G., Hawkins, T.R., Strømman, A.H., Environ. Sci. Technol. 45 (2011) 4548-4554
Notter, D.A., Gauch, M., Widmer, R., Wager, P., Stamp, A., Zah, R., Althaus, H. J., Environ. Sci. Technol. 44 (2010) 6550-6556
ENTSO-E, Detailed Electricity Exchange (in GWh), 2013
R. Frischknecht, M. Tuchschmid, M. Faist-Emmenegger, C. Bauer, R. Dones, Strommix und Stromnetz, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Uster, Database documentation, 2007
European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability, ILCD handbook: Framework and requirements for Life Cycle Impact Assessment models and indicators. Ispra: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010
Howarth, R.W., Santoro, R., Ingraffea, A., Climatic Change 106 (2011) 679-690
“Die Geschichte des VW Golf: Wie VW den Golf ständig neu erfindet”, Handelsblatt Online, Düsseldorf, 2012