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Life Cycle Assessment of Fuel Cell Vehicles Considering the Detailed Vehicle Components: Comparison and Scenario Analysis in China Based on Different Hydrogen Production Schemes

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  • Yisong Chen

    (School of Automobile, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China)

  • Xu Hu

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Jiahui Liu

    (School of Automobile, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China)

Abstract

Numerous studies concerning the life cycle assessment of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been conducted. However, little attention has been paid to the life cycle assessment of an FCV from the perspective of the detailed vehicle components. This work conducts the life cycle assessment of Toyota Mirai with all major components considered in a Chinese context. Both the vehicle cycle and the fuel cycle are included. Both comprehensive resources and energy consumption and comprehensive environmental emissions of the life cycles are investigated. Potential environmental impacts are further explored based on CML 2001 method. Then different hydrogen production schemes are compared to obtain the most favorable solution. To explore the potential of the electrolysis, the scenario analysis of the power structure is conducted. The results show that the most mineral resources are consumed in the raw material acquisition stage, the most fossil energy is consumed in the use stage and global warming potential (GWP) value is fairly high in all life cycle stages of Toyota Mirai using electrolyzed hydrogen. For hydrogen production schemes, the scenario analysis indicates that simply by optimizing the power structure, the environmental impact of the electrolysis remains higher than other schemes. When using the electricity from hydropower or wind power, the best choice will be the electrolysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Yisong Chen & Xu Hu & Jiahui Liu, 2019. "Life Cycle Assessment of Fuel Cell Vehicles Considering the Detailed Vehicle Components: Comparison and Scenario Analysis in China Based on Different Hydrogen Production Schemes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-24, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:15:p:3031-:d:255179
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eugene Yin Cheung Wong & Danny Chi Kuen Ho & Stuart So & Chi-Wing Tsang & Eve Man Hin Chan, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Vehicles and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Using the GREET Model—A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Yang Yang & Libo Lan & Zhuo Hao & Jianyou Zhao & Geng Luo & Pei Fu & Yisong Chen, 2022. "Life Cycle Prediction Assessment of Battery Electrical Vehicles with Special Focus on Different Lithium-Ion Power Batteries in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, July.
    3. Li, Jiaxuan & Zhu, Xun & Djilali, Ned & Yang, Yang & Ye, Dingding & Chen, Rong & Liao, Qiang, 2022. "Comparative well-to-pump assessment of fueling pathways for zero-carbon transportation in China: Hydrogen economy or methanol economy?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Daniel Garraín & Santacruz Banacloche & Paloma Ferreira-Aparicio & Antonio Martínez-Chaparro & Yolanda Lechón, 2021. "Sustainability Indicators for the Manufacturing and Use of a Fuel Cell Prototype and Hydrogen Storage for Portable Uses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Gianmarco Gottardo & Andrea Basso Peressut & Silvia Colnago & Saverio Latorrata & Luigi Piegari & Giovanni Dotelli, 2023. "LCA of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Considering Different Power System Architectures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Ren, Lei & Zhou, Sheng & Peng, Tianduo & Ou, Xunmin, 2022. "Greenhouse gas life cycle analysis of China's fuel cell medium- and heavy-duty trucks under segmented usage scenarios and vehicle types," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    7. Li, Chengjiang & Jia, Tingwen & Wang, Honglei & Wang, Xiaolin & Negnevitsky, Michael & Hu, Yu-jie & Zhao, Gang & Wang, Liang, 2023. "Assessing the prospect of deploying green methanol vehicles in China from energy, environmental and economic perspectives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).

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