A cradle to grave comparison of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and their conventional counterparts during their different life cycle stages: Manufacturing, Utilization & Recycling.
The search for new technologies is driven by regulators, not the marketplace!
But can we live without commuting at all! A definite NO for that answer brings us to the discussion where we talk about the life cycle of an Automobile and associated liabilities.
Safety hazard/vehicles can take life: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nickel is a probable human carcinogen, and improperly disposing of nickel-hydride batteries can pose an
Emissions
Cost/free commuting
Stress on the 3 factors which has resulted in regulations associated with Utilization only! So are we doing it right-ofcourse NOT!!
To tackle this parity we study LCA
Important tool to assess the environmental impact associated with the production and service of a product.
Extraction of Raw Materials>transportation>processing>manufacture>transportation>usage>recycle>disposal
Costly, time consuming
Something which only a fortune 50 company would think of doing
There are independent companies/firms which have clients like GM, Nokia etc. which do this for their existence So these clients approach these firms with their Product>These firms dig deep and uncover all the costs and emissions which were incurred during the life-cycle of this product. So these firms are some of the hard-core data analysts!
Incorporating advanced material “Carbon RPF” to make the vehicle lightweight and thus reduce the emissions might give rise to increase in emissions while recycling the Carbon CPR! And this emission has a potential to outweigh the benefits of Carbon CPR and thus the improvements that you engineered in the first place!!!
Talk about the potential emissions involved in this cycle! Dynamite>JCB>Truck transportation>Material processing>>Vehicle production>Utilization>Recycling>DisposalManufactureUtilization
Recycling
With this inventory an environmental profile will be set up, which makes it possible to identify the weak points in the lifecycle of the system studied. These weak points are the focal points for improving the system from an environmental impact point of view.
Significant emissions during recycling!! Now this is a 95 data, so since then, our recycling capabilities and technologies have improved. But with the HEV drive, use Rare Earth Metals and Composites have made things difficult.
Neodymium has to imported from China!
Spend Time here!!
Couldn’t pull out the recent data but with engg judgement We can predict and infer that how other life cycle stages has become complicated and energy internsive and consequently given rise to emissions.
Why is it dropping, for obvious reasons!!
Since the composition of both hybrid and electric vehicles differs quite dramatically from conventional vehicles, there is some concern about the impact on the profitability of the recycling infrastructure of the automotive industry
Recycling rate of 95% is impressive but with the advent of the HEVs and EVs this figure will drop down due to additional costs and technology associated with recycling
Vehicle recovery route is becoming complicated and short with the advent of e-mobility!!.
Energy costs refer to fuel and recharging costs, for 10,000 km per annum
Energy consumption in GGE
Vehicles goes through mid-life crisis
GHG = N2O, CO2, CH4
For vehicle-cycle: the production of materials accounts for a majority of the energy use and emissions of all the vehicles
Energy use and GHG emissions: increased by advanced powertrain vehicles when compared to the ICEV due to
(a) the increased use of aluminum
(b) the increased use of composites
Makes both recycling and production difficult
Reformulated gasoline (RFG) is gasoline blended to burn more clearly than conventional gasoline and to reduce smog-forming and toxic pollutants in the air we breathe. The RFG program was mandated by Congress in the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments. The first phase of the RFG program began in 1995 and the second (current) phase began in 2000.
RFG is required in cities with high smog levels and is optional elsewhere. RFG is currently used in 17 states and the District of Columbia. About 30 percent of gasoline sold in the U.S. is reformulated.
The air quality benefits RFG has achieved represent a significant part of the country's smog reduction strategy. The RFG program, combined with other industrial and transportation controls aimed at smog reduction, is contributing to the long-term downward trend in U.S. smog levels. About 75 million people breathe cleaner air because of RFG.
Fuel Cycle Emissions = WTT
More Emotors = More Copper Mining = lead to further environmental degradation
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne's Illinois Sustainable Technology Center found that copper mining contributes to particulate air emissions of various metals and sulfuric acid.
Open pit mining is also known as strip mining, and involves the stripping of surface grasses, trees and dirt to unearth the deposits of minerals.
A lot of comparisons have been made between Toyota Corolla (Conventional) and Prius (HEV)
All the Research papers and articles do an extensive assertion and reasoning on individual aspects and viability for different tech but at the very end they say that we need support from the govt.
Classroom discussions and the meetings taking place at the EPA conference room are continuously trying to evaluate the viability of the green drive.