Environmental Evaluation and Effectiveness of Lightweight Electric-Assist Tricycle with Next-Generation Batteries

摘要

Life cycle environmental evaluation of a new lightweight electric-assist tricycle has been discussed in terms of materials supply, production, use and recycling/disposal stages. The effectiveness of such a novel tricycle is compared with existing transportation from the viewpoint of life cycle environmental impact. In life cycle environmental evaluation, photovoltaic and in-vehicle fuel cell power generations are applied as an energy source for the electric-assist bicycle as well as commercial purchased electricity. Its transportation by light truck, passenger car, scooter and the well-known two-wheel electric-assist bicycle is chosen here for comparison. The factors affecting the environmental impact of each type of transportation device were shown. The loadage of each means of transportation was determined so that the new electric-assist tricycle's environmental impact would be less. As a result, our novel lightweight electric-assist tricycle was found to be effective for short-distance transport of a small amount of lightweight materials, as in a factory or a local transportation.