Life cycle assessment (LCA) in transportation terms involves some subjectivity and uncertainty, especially with new technologies and future scenarios. To analyze lifecycle impacts of future fuel cell vehicles and fuels, the Fuel Upstream Energy and Emission Model (FEEM) was developed within the Fuel Cell Vehicle Modelling Program at the Institute of Transportation Studies. To demonstrate the FUEEM process, a life cycle inventory and assessment (for greenhouse gases) was conducted for three Fuel Cell Vehicle technologies concepts, hypothetically operating the South Coast California Air Basin in the year 2010 and beyond. The analyzed vehicle concepts are Direct Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (DHFCV), Indirect Methanol Fuel Cell Vehicles (IMFCV) and Indirect Hydrocarbon Fuel Cell Vehicles (IHFCV). In this paper the main results are summarized. The total energy requirement results show that in general terms, the operation of a direct hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (DHFCV) has a higher possibility of requiring less energy in the entire life cycle than the other technologies considered. On the other hand, based on the uncertainty analysis done, only 37.6 % of the direct hydrogen scenarios are more efficient or consume less energy in the life cycle than any of the indirect methanol scenarios considered. The analyses also show that 44.7 % of the indirect methanol scenarios are less efficient, or consume more energy in the life cycle than any hydrogen scenario considered. For all scenarios, the direct hydrogen cycles are more efficient than the indirect hydrocarbon cycles. The same discussion applies to the indirect methanol fuel cell vehicle and the indirect hydrocarbon scenarios. The results of the greenhouse gases assessment are very similar to the total energy requirement results.
Life cycle assessment of fuel cell vehicles. A case study summary
Ökobilanz von Brennstoffzellenfahrzeugen. Eine Fallstudie
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment ; 8 , 3 ; 179-180
2003
2 Seiten, 2 Bilder, 5 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
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