Assessing well-to-wheel cost of avoided carbon dioxide of zero tailpipe-emission vehicles: A case study for a fleet in Valle Camonica

The road transportation significantly contributes to emissions. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are potential zero tailpipe-emission solutions. This study presents a numerical model to minimize the annual cost of refueling infrastructure for a fleet of electric and hydrogen vehicles. The case study involves a fleet of 60 vehicles in Valle Camonica, Italy, covering 500,000 km annually and consuming 270,000 L of diesel. The model evaluates the interaction between solar photovoltaic and the grid to understand the economics of carbon dioxide avoidance. It optimizes the design and operation of infrastructure components, considering variables such as vehicle tank energy content, energy sources, electricity prices, and the potential to sell electricity to the grid. Key findings indicate that, without logistical constraints, BEVs outperform FCEVs. However, FCEVs become necessary for longer missions. Grid-connected plants show superior economics, achieving 65 %–90 % emissions mitigation. The study also reveals that optimal economics are achieved by oversizing renewable energy sources and consistently selling electricity to the grid, resulting in a minimum cost of avoided CO2 of 35 €/ton. The optimal strategy for significant but not total decarbonization involves grid-connected plants, proving economically viable through electricity sales, requiring a shift in traditional logistics business model.