Research on Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Environmental Emissions of Light-Duty Battery Electric Vehicles

Abstract

Based on producing and manufacturing process of key components, a light-duty battery electric passenger vehicle was selected as a research object, and the energy consumption and environmental emissions from raw materials production, electric vehicle manufacture and operation process in depth were analyzed. The results showed that, the energy consumption for the whole life cycle of EV was 438GJ. The production and operation process of EV accounted for 18.5% and 81.5%, respectively. The GHGs (including CO2, CH4and N2O) emission was 39.3tCO2-eq. The production and operation processed of EV account for 17% and 83%, respectively. Five kinds of other gases emissions from the production and operation process of EV were as follows: 305kg SOx, 206kg NOx, 133kg PM, 69.3kg CO, and 14.6kg NMVOCs. The production and manufacture of key parts and components account for the largest share of the total energy consumption and environmental emissions. Battery system is in the next place, while motor system is least.