Life Cycle Assessment Comparison of Stainless Steel and Aluminium Bus Bodies

摘要

The aim of this study is to compare environmental impacts of two different busbodies during their life cycle. The expected life time of the studied buses is 20 years, and their intended use is in suburban traffic. The use of stainless steel and aluminum in transport is increasing, thus it is necessary to compare the environmental performance of these materials used in bus bodies. The ecobalances were calculated for the production phase of the materials used and operation phase of the bodies. Operation phase dominates environmental impacts during life cycles of both bodies, and air emissions during operation were almost the same for both bodies. Since the production of the materials used in stainless steel body is less harmful to environment, this body is environmentally slightly more acceptable through the life cycles of the studied bus bodies.