Compiled / Zhu Lin
Editor/ Qian Yaguang
Design / Zhao Haoran
Source: Mitechnews, iopscience, by Ann Arbor, Maxwell Woody
Major U.S. automakers are stepping up efforts to electrify pickup trucks as a key strategy for reducing their vehicles' greenhouse gas emissions.
Light vehicles, including cars, SUVs and pickups, currently account for 58 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. transportation. Pickup trucks account for 14 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales in 2020, and both pickup and SUVs have seen their market share grow in recent years.
But what does electrification of pickup trucks mean for the decarbonization of the transportation sector?
Researchers at the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company explored this question in a new study and assessed the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from electric pickup trucks relative to fuel pickups. The study was published online March 1 in the journal Environmental Research Newsletter.
"This is an important study that informs and encourages climate action. Our research clearly shows that greenhouse gas emissions can be significantly reduced by transitioning various vehicles to electrified powertrains. Greg Keoleian, senior author of the study, professor at the University of Michigan's School of Environment and Sustainability and director of the Center for Sustainable Systems, said.
In the study, the researchers assessed the entire life cycle of pickup trucks and compared the impact of pickup electrification with the electrification of cars and SUVs.
Focusing on assessing greenhouse gas emissions, the researchers looked at three different 2020 models, including midsize sedans, midsize SUVs and full-size pickups, with a choice of powertrains including: internal combustion engine, hybrid and all-electric, taking into account differences in fuel economy, annual mileage, vehicle production and vehicle life in different categories.
They found that in the United States, the full life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of pure electric vehicles are on average about 64% lower than those of internal combustion engine vehicles.
Vehicle life-cycle emissions from various vehicle categories and powertrain combinations▼
"This research can help us understand the potential impact of electrification from a reducing perspective, especially with the introduction of new electric vehicles, and how will we proceed in order to accelerate the process of achieving carbon neutrality?" Cynthia Williams, Director of Global Sustainability, Certification and Compliance at Ford Motor Company, said, "We are honored to work with the University of Michigan on this important work. ”
The study made several key findings. For example, replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with pure electric vehicles will increase the total tonnage of greenhouse gas emission reductions as the size of the vehicle increases, as larger vehicles consume more fuel.
Max Woody, a research expert at the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems, the first author of the study, said that while the percentage of emission reductions for different categories of vehicles is roughly the same, on average, replacing an internal combustion engine car with a pure electric sedan saves 45 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; replacing an internal combustion engine SUV with a pure electric SUV can save 56 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; replacing an internal combustion engine pickup truck with a pure electric pickup truck can save a vehicle 74 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for a lifetime.
The researchers also found that pure electric vehicles emit more greenhouse gas emissions during the manufacturing process than internal combustion locomotives due to battery production, but this effect is offset by their emission reductions in motion. For pure electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles, the profit and loss balance time for cars is 1.2-1.3 years, SUVs 1.4-1.6 years, and pickup trucks 1.3 years, based on the average grid and vehicle mileage in the United States.
Emissions from the production cycle of the base model▼
This study extends from previous studies, which focused on comparing pure electric cars with internal combustion engines or hybrid cars. We report emissions from the vehicle's production, use, and end-of-life phases, on a per-mile basis and across the entire vehicle lifecycle. Koorian said.
"In addition, taking into account the differences in grid mix and ambient temperature, we analyzed regional variations in emissions and also explored the impact of grid decarbonization rates on emission reductions."
Because different temperatures and different driving cycles affect the fuel economy of a vehicle, vehicle emissions vary across the United States. For electric vehicles, the greenhouse gas emission intensity of the local grid is also an important factor.
The study map shows the grams of CO2e per mile (g CO2e/mile) emitted per mile for each powertrain (internal combustion locomotive, hybrid, and electric vehicle) and vehicle type (sedan, SUV, and pickup truck) in U.S. counties.
Greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of vehicles of different types and powertrains by county in the United States▼
There is a public concern that pure electric vehicles emit higher emissions than diesel locomotives or hybrids, and the researchers found that this concern is largely unfounded. Because in 95%-96% of counties, pure electric vehicles outperform hybrids, while in 98%-99% of counties, pure electric vehicles outperform internal combustion engine vehicles, even assuming only minor advances in decarbonizing the grid.
Charging strategies can further reduce emissions from pure electric vehicles. The study found that charging during periods of the day when the grid's emissions intensity was lowest could reduce emissions by an average of 11 percent.
"The deployment of electric vehicles and the expansion of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind should go hand in hand." Woody said, "The benefits of each are multiplied by the development of the other."
This article was originally produced by Automotive Business Review
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