The automotive industry has been working towards EU targets to reduce vehicle tailpipe CO_2 emissions. The use of alternatives to conventional fossil fuels, such as electricity, are currently being implemented to achieve further reductions. It is vital that we understand and monitor the implications of these alternatives in order to minimise ongoing environmental impacts. The potential for use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determine the true environmental impact of different fuels for use in internal combustion engines is considered in this paper. Six LCA studies are reviewed and their approaches to the goal and scope definition phase discussed.
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