Estimating Life-Cycle CO_2 Emissions of Typical Freeway Passenger Vehicles

摘要

This paper applied life-cycle assessment (LCA) to vehicles, including processes of vehicle material production, assembly, maintenance, and operation. Typical freeway passenger vehicles in China were analyzed-including sedans and coaches-with different passenger loading: only driver onboard, half-load, and full load. Sensitivity analysis was conducted. Results indicate: carbon dioxide (CO_2) emissions (Es) in the vehicle cycle of sedans are 119611.63 kg, while that of coaches are 636007.74 kg, and the biggest Es are from vehicle operation; the biggest Es of the vehicle fabrication stage are from material production, while the biggest Es of the vehicle maintenance stage are from fluids replacement for sedans and tires for coaches; improving the technology of producing steel and aluminum can reduce CO_2 Es remarkably; coaches with more than 27 passengers will be greener compared to sedans in any scenarios. These findings can help reduce transportation CO_2 Es for forming a more sustainable transportation system.