IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i15p11795-d1207727.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Decarbonization Potentials for Automotive Supply Chains: Emission-Intensity Pathways of Carbon-Intensive Hotspots of Battery Electric Vehicles

Author

Listed:
  • Justus Poschmann

    (Volkswagen AG, Group Strategy Sustainability, Berliner Ring 2, 38440 Wolfsburg, Germany
    Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Institute of Environmental Technology, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Vanessa Bach

    (Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Institute of Environmental Technology, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Matthias Finkbeiner

    (Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Institute of Environmental Technology, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

To keep global warming below 1.5 °C, the road transport sector must decrease its emissions by substituting internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) with battery electric vehicles (BEV). As BEVs can be operated with renewable electricity, the CO 2−eq emissions of the supply chain are relevant for future mitigation. The aim of this paper is to derive emission-intensity pathways and to determine the decarbonization impact regarding the lifecycle emissions of BEVs. Therefore, an analysis for steel, aluminum, battery cells, plastic, and glass, and an evaluation of the literature containing present emission intensities (e.g., for steel 1.7 tCO 2 /t to 2.8 tCO 2 /t) and reduction potentials, were performed. Based on low-carbon electricity, circular materials, and recycling, as well as technological improvements, emission intensities can be decreased by 69% to 91% by 2050. As a result, the carbon footprint of the reviewed vehicles can be reduced by 47% for supply chain emissions, whereas 25% to 37% of the total lifecycle emissions remain. Considering the scenario studied, BEVs cannot be decarbonized aligned to the 1.5 °C pathway using only avoidance and reduction measures until 2050. Consequently, the application of carbon removals is necessary. However, the applied trajectory and extrapolation relies on material availability and does not consider abatement costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Justus Poschmann & Vanessa Bach & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2023. "Decarbonization Potentials for Automotive Supply Chains: Emission-Intensity Pathways of Carbon-Intensive Hotspots of Battery Electric Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11795-:d:1207727
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/15/11795/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/15/11795/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Julian Suer & Marzia Traverso & Nils Jäger, 2022. "Review of Life Cycle Assessments for Steel and Environmental Analysis of Future Steel Production Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Hammond, Geoffrey P. & Hazeldine, Tom, 2015. "Indicative energy technology assessment of advanced rechargeable batteries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 559-571.
    3. Jiajia Zheng & Sangwon Suh, 2019. "Strategies to reduce the global carbon footprint of plastics," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(5), pages 374-378, May.
    4. Mazin Obaidat & Ahmed Al-Ghandoor & Patrick Phelan & Rene Villalobos & Ammar Alkhalidi, 2018. "Energy and Exergy Analyses of Different Aluminum Reduction Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, April.
    5. Hao, Han & Geng, Yong & Hang, Wen, 2016. "GHG emissions from primary aluminum production in China: Regional disparity and policy implications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 264-272.
    6. Abhinav Bhaskar & Mohsen Assadi & Homam Nikpey Somehsaraei, 2020. "Decarbonization of the Iron and Steel Industry with Direct Reduction of Iron Ore with Green Hydrogen," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, February.
    7. Rissman, Jeffrey & Bataille, Chris & Masanet, Eric & Aden, Nate & Morrow, William R. & Zhou, Nan & Elliott, Neal & Dell, Rebecca & Heeren, Niko & Huckestein, Brigitta & Cresko, Joe & Miller, Sabbie A., 2020. "Technologies and policies to decarbonize global industry: Review and assessment of mitigation drivers through 2070," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    8. Halmann, M. & Frei, A. & Steinfeld, A., 2007. "Carbothermal reduction of alumina: Thermochemical equilibrium calculations and experimental investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 2420-2427.
    9. Salvatore Digiesi & Giovanni Mummolo & Micaela Vitti, 2022. "Minimum Emissions Configuration of a Green Energy–Steel System: An Analytical Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-21, May.
    10. McManus, M.C., 2012. "Environmental consequences of the use of batteries in low carbon systems: The impact of battery production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 288-295.
    11. Hatem Alhazmi & Faris H. Almansour & Zaid Aldhafeeri, 2021. "Plastic Waste Management: A Review of Existing Life Cycle Assessment Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.
    12. Emiliano Pipitone & Salvatore Caltabellotta & Leonardo Occhipinti, 2021. "A Life Cycle Environmental Impact Comparison between Traditional, Hybrid, and Electric Vehicles in the European Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-32, October.
    13. Andrea Temporelli & Maria Leonor Carvalho & Pierpaolo Girardi, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Vehicle Batteries: An Overview of Recent Literature," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-13, June.
    14. Fabian Duffner & Niklas Kronemeyer & Jens Tübke & Jens Leker & Martin Winter & Richard Schmuch, 2021. "Post-lithium-ion battery cell production and its compatibility with lithium-ion cell production infrastructure," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 123-134, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Christian Aichberger & Gerfried Jungmeier, 2020. "Environmental Life Cycle Impacts of Automotive Batteries Based on a Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-27, December.
    2. Peters, Jens F. & Baumann, Manuel & Zimmermann, Benedikt & Braun, Jessica & Weil, Marcel, 2017. "The environmental impact of Li-Ion batteries and the role of key parameters – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 491-506.
    3. Luca Di Paolo & Simona Abbate & Eliseo Celani & Davide Di Battista & Giovanni Candeloro, 2022. "Carbon Footprint of Single-Use Plastic Items and Their Substitution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Wang, Xiaoyang & Yu, Biying & An, Runying & Sun, Feihu & Xu, Shuo, 2022. "An integrated analysis of China’s iron and steel industry towards carbon neutrality," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    5. Rosario Tolomeo & Giovanni De Feo & Renata Adami & Libero Sesti Osséo, 2020. "Application of Life Cycle Assessment to Lithium Ion Batteries in the Automotive Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, June.
    6. Jhuma Sadhukhan & Mark Christensen, 2021. "An In-Depth Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Lithium-Ion Battery for Climate Impact Mitigation Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Liu, Weipeng & Peng, Tao & Kishita, Yusuke & Umeda, Yasushi & Tang, Renzhong & Tang, Wangchujun & Hu, Luoke, 2021. "Critical life cycle inventory for aluminum die casting: A lightweight-vehicle manufacturing enabling technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    8. Tian, Shuoshuo & Di, Yuezhong & Dai, Min & Chen, Weiqiang & Zhang, Qi, 2022. "Comprehensive assessment of energy conservation and CO2 emission reduction in future aluminum supply chain," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    9. Phillip K. Agbesi & Rico Ruffino & Marko Hakovirta, 2023. "The development of sustainable electric vehicle business ecosystems," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(8), pages 1-59, August.
    10. Fábio T. F. Silva & Alexandre Szklo & Amanda Vinhoza & Ana Célia Nogueira & André F. P. Lucena & Antônio Marcos Mendonça & Camilla Marcolino & Felipe Nunes & Francielle M. Carvalho & Isabela Tagomori , 2022. "Inter-sectoral prioritization of climate technologies: insights from a Technology Needs Assessment for mitigation in Brazil," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(7), pages 1-39, October.
    11. Qi, Meng & Park, Jinwoo & Lee, Inkyu & Moon, Il, 2022. "Liquid air as an emerging energy vector towards carbon neutrality: A multi-scale systems perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    12. Abdulmajeed Almadhi & Abdelhakim Abdelhadi & Rakan Alyamani, 2023. "Moving from Linear to Circular Economy in Saudi Arabia: Life-Cycle Assessment on Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, July.
    13. Mayyas Alsalman & Vian Ahmed & Zied Bahroun & Sara Saboor, 2023. "An Economic Analysis of Solar Energy Generation Policies in the UAE," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-25, March.
    14. He, Hongwen & Xiong, Rui & Zhao, Kai & Liu, Zhentong, 2013. "Energy management strategy research on a hybrid power system by hardware-in-loop experiments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1311-1317.
    15. Changping Zhao & Juanjuan Sun & Yun Zhang, 2022. "A Study of the Drivers of Decarbonization in the Plastics Supply Chain in the Post-COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    16. Sebastian Spierling & Venkateshwaran Venkatachalam & Marina Mudersbach & Nico Becker & Christoph Herrmann & Hans-Josef Endres, 2020. "End-of-Life Options for Bio-Based Plastics in a Circular Economy—Status Quo and Potential from a Life Cycle Assessment Perspective," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-20, July.
    17. Maruf, Md. Nasimul Islam, 2021. "Open model-based analysis of a 100% renewable and sector-coupled energy system–The case of Germany in 2050," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    18. Masebinu, S.O. & Akinlabi, E.T. & Muzenda, E. & Aboyade, A.O., 2017. "Techno-economics and environmental analysis of energy storage for a student residence under a South African time-of-use tariff rate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 413-429.
    19. Róbert Csalódi & Tímea Czvetkó & Viktor Sebestyén & János Abonyi, 2022. "Sectoral Analysis of Energy Transition Paths and Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-26, October.
    20. Hu, Yi & Yin, Zhifeng & Ma, Jian & Du, Wencui & Liu, Danhe & Sun, Luxi, 2017. "Determinants of GHG emissions for a municipal economy: Structural decomposition analysis of Chongqing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 162-169.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11795-:d:1207727. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.