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: ANL/ESD-16/7

Amgad Elgowainy, Jeongwoo Han, Jacob Ward, Fred Joseck, David Gohlke, Alicia Lindauer, Todd Ramsden, Mary Biddy, Marcus Alexander, Steven Barnhart, Ian Sutherland, Laura Verduzco, Timothy Wallington

Research output: NRELTechnical Report

Abstract

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.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages211
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/TP-6A20-83705

Keywords

  • battery electric vehicles
  • cradle-to-grave analysis
  • flexible fuel vehicles
  • fuel cell electric vehicles
  • greenhouse gas emissions
  • hybrid electric vehicles
  • internal combustion engine vehicles
  • levelized cost of driving
  • life cycle analysis
  • light-duty vehicles
  • plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
  • technology readiness levels
  • vehicle-fuel pathways

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