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Life-Cycle Assessment of Brazilian Transport Biofuel and Electrification Pathways

Author

Listed:
  • Kain Glensor

    (Mobility and International Cooperation, Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie gGmbH, 10178 Berlin, Germany)

  • María Rosa Muñoz B.

    (Mobility and International Cooperation, Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie gGmbH, 10178 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Biofuels and electrification are potential ways to reduce CO 2 emissions from the transport sector, although not without limitations or associated problems. This paper describes a life-cycle analysis (LCA) of the Brazilian urban passenger transport system. The LCA considers various scenarios of a wholesale conversion of car and urban bus fleets to 100% electric or biofuel (bioethanol and biodiesel) use by 2050 compared to a business as usual (BAU) scenario. The LCA includes the following phases of vehicles and their life: fuel use and manufacturing (including electricity generation and land-use emissions), vehicle and battery manufacturing and end of life. The results are presented in terms of CO 2 , nitrous oxides (NO x ) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, electricity consumption and the land required to grow the requisite biofuel feedstocks. Biofuels result in similar or higher CO 2 and air pollutant emissions than BAU, while electrification resulted in significantly lower emissions of all types. Possible limitations found include the amount of electricity consumed by electric vehicles in the electrification scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • Kain Glensor & María Rosa Muñoz B., 2019. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Brazilian Transport Biofuel and Electrification Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-31, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:22:p:6332-:d:285865
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