Review
Environmental Sciences
Ahan Parikh, Manan Shah, Mitul Prajapati
Summary: With the advancement of technology and the implementation of international norms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, automakers have focused on new technologies related to electric and hybrid vehicles as well as electric fuel cell vehicles. This study compares different fuel cell electric car topologies to determine which fuel alternative is more sustainable in the future. The analysis includes comparing the efficiencies, performance, advantages, and disadvantages of different fuel cells and batteries.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lorenzo Usai, Christine Roxanne Hung, Felipe Vasquez, Max Windsheimer, Odne Stokke Burheim, Anders Hammer Stromman
Summary: Electric vehicles are crucial for reducing emissions from light duty vehicles, with fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) offering potential benefits in driving range and fueling/charging rates. However, challenges such as lack of fueling infrastructure and high production costs hinder widespread adoption. Constant data updates and early detection of environmental impacts are necessary to guide technological progress. Assessments show that FCEV systems have lower environmental performance in certain components, but future technological developments combined with renewable energy sources could lead to significant reductions in environmental footprints.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Guangyan Zhu, Yajun Tian, Min Liu, Yating Zhao, Wen Wang, Minghua Wang, Quansheng Li, Kechang Xie
Summary: This study evaluated 12 technical routes (Electricity, Gasoline, Hydrogen, Ammonia) from technical, environmental and economic perspectives and compared their comprehensive competitiveness. The results show that renewable energy-based technical routes reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, but they have relatively high economic costs. Battery electric vehicles have the best comprehensive competitiveness at room temperature, while ammonia-hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles can be applied in special scenarios.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fayas Malik Kanchiralla, Selma Brynolf, Tobias Olsson, Joanne Ellis, Julia Hansson, Maria Grahn
Summary: This study evaluates the feasibility, environmental impacts, and economic viability of different energy carriers for different ship types. It found that battery-electric and compressed hydrogen options are not viable for some ships, while the use of ammonia and methanol in engines has the lowest life cycle cost.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Steffen Bloemeke, Christian Scheller, Felipe Cerdas, Christian Thies, Rolf Hachenberger, Mark Gonter, Christoph Herrmann, Thomas S. Spengler
Summary: Electric vehicles with renewable energy are crucial in reducing carbon emissions. However, current lithium-ion batteries contain environmentally harmful, scarce, and expensive materials. Recycling these batteries can mitigate the environmental impact and address resource scarcity. The automotive industry needs effective processes for battery recycling.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Quanqing Yu, Yuwei Nie, Simin Peng, Yifan Miao, Chengzhi Zhai, Runfeng Zhang, Jinsong Han, Shuo Zhao, Michael Pecht
Summary: In recent years, frequent electric vehicle safety incidents related to batteries have raised concerns about the adequacy of current international safety standards. China, as the leading producer of batteries for electric vehicles, has developed its own national standards, but the unique value of these standards is in question. This review paper analyzes the Chinese safety standards from various perspectives and provides recommendations for building better international battery safety standards.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
U. Akasapu, P. Hehenberger
Summary: This paper examines the impact of lithium-ion batteries and battery electric vehicles on climate change, their second life, and recyclability through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The study focuses on parameters such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), Abiotic Depletion Potential (ADP), and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED), which are important for sustainable design decisions. The authors propose a design process model based on these considerations to improve resource utilization, reduce waste, and enhance the overall utility of battery packs.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Arunkumar Jayakumar, Dinesh Kumar Madheswaran, A. M. Kannan, Ullashvaran Sureshvaran, Jayanth Sathish
Summary: This article critically assesses the use of H2 as a sustainable fuel for Indian mobility applications, highlighting its potential techno-economic advantages compared to battery electric vehicles or conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. The primary challenges identified are the production, storage, and distribution costs of H2, as well as the need for improvements to compete with other types of vehicles. Secondary challenges include the cost of fuel cell stacks, modifications to internal combustion engine vehicles, and regulatory and safety concerns.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Veronica Valencia, Yris Olaya, Santiago Arango-Aramburo
Summary: The climate crisis and poor urban air quality have made decarbonization of the transport sector a priority for governments, but they have mainly focused on technological changes while neglecting the potential of modal shifts. Using a system dynamics model, we simulated decarbonization scenarios for urban land transport in Bogotá, Colombia, and found that by 2050, alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) could account for 52.7% of the fleet, reducing CO2eq emissions by 14.6% and PM emissions by 20.3%. However, this alone would not be sufficient to achieve the emissions reduction target by 2030 due to the inertia of the old vehicle fleet and unchanged travel behavior.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Shafique, Xiaowei Luo
Summary: Electric vehicles and renewable energy play a significant role in sustainable transportation systems and require comprehensive assessment for accurate guidance. Research results show that EVs with Norway's 2030 electricity mix have the least environmental impact, indicating the benefit of using clean energy to mitigate climate change globally.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Management
Osman Alp, Tarkan Tan, Maximiliano Udenio
Summary: This study explores a cost-minimizing strategic transition plan for a firm that owns and operates a fleet of diesel trucks to adopt electric trucks over time. The impact of investing in charging infrastructure and various influential factors on the transition plan are considered. The results indicate that firms with high transportation demand density can significantly benefit from adopting electric trucks while reducing carbon emissions.
OMEGA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Studies
Nuri C. Onat, Murat Kucukvar
Summary: Electric mobility is on the rise worldwide to reduce environmental impacts, decrease dependence on petroleum, and diversify energy sources for transportation. However, there are several knowledge gaps in the sustainability assessment of electric vehicles, such as the lack of socioeconomic assessment and integrated modeling approaches. Traditional life cycle assessment methods are not sufficient to analyze economic and social impacts and other related issues. To address these gaps, new approaches, such as life cycle sustainability assessment, are being developed. This research provides an overview of the current state of knowledge and identifies research gaps in the field of sustainability assessment of emerging technologies and electric vehicles.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cameron Rout, Hu Li, Valerie Dupont, Zia Wadud
Summary: This study analyzes the cost competitiveness of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in heavy fleet applications in 2021 and in future scenarios. It suggests that under specific conditions and incentives, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have the potential to compete with battery electric vehicles.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Alberto Picardo, Victor M. Soltero, Estela Peralta
Summary: The construction sector, particularly road infrastructures, has a significant environmental footprint due to the use of virgin raw materials and extraction of natural aggregates. The focus on sustainable mobility has led to the need for environmental performance assessment of roads. This research examines the suitability of life cycle assessment (LCA) and other environmental analysis methodologies for infrastructure projects, highlighting the need for versatile impact analysis tools and specialized databases tailored to road infrastructure.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhijie Yang, Haibo Huang, Feng Lin
Summary: This article examines the environmental impact of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and compares their environmental sustainability with EVs. By reviewing life cycle assessment studies, the article provides insights into materials development, manufacturing, recycling, and discusses the future technological development.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Gilang Hardadi, Alexander Buchholz, Stefan Pauliuk
Summary: The distribution of German household environmental footprints across income groups shows different consumption patterns, with the lowest-income group having a higher share of electricity and utilities consumption and the highest-income group having a higher share of transportation consumption. The distribution of household carbon footprints in Germany is less equal, and implementing a uniform carbon tax would be regressive, requiring a revenue recycling scheme to alleviate the burden on low-income households.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Stefan Pauliuk, Tomer Fishman, Niko Heeren, Peter Berrill, Qingshi Tu, Paul Wolfram, Edgar G. Hertwich
Summary: Material production contributes to 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating more efficient material use. The resource efficiency-climate change (RECC) mitigation framework presented in this study offers strategies for decoupling services from materials and provides detailed insights for policymakers on the mitigation nexus.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Paul Wolfram, Qingshi Tu, Niko Heeren, Stefan Pauliuk, Edgar G. Hertwich
Summary: The transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy is ongoing but may not be fast enough to meet climate change targets. Material efficiency (ME) strategies, such as lightweighting and increased recycling, offer a promising short-term solution for reducing emissions. ME can cut carbon footprints significantly, especially through downsizing and increased vehicle use.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Stefan Pauliuk, Niko Heeren
Summary: Germany has successfully reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% since 1990, with a national goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. While energy efficiency measures have been established, further reductions will require a focus on material efficiency, such as product lightweighting, material reuse, remanufacturing, and product lifecycle extension. Sector-specific research has shown significant emissions savings potential through material efficiency strategies, and implementing such measures could further reduce emissions by 19-34% in passenger vehicles, 27-31% in residential buildings, and 14-19% in non-residential buildings by 2050.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Stefanie Klose, Stefan Pauliuk
Summary: Resource efficiency strategies are being increasingly emphasized in policy agendas worldwide, aiming at reducing waste and improving resource usage. However, many countries currently focus more on reducing losses at the waste management stage rather than considering resource efficiency comprehensively. Evaluating the copper cycle reveals regional differences in loss distribution at various stages, with China projected to lose the most copper by 2050.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tomer Fishman, Niko Heeren, Stefan Pauliuk, Peter Berrill, Qingshi Tu, Paul Wolfram, Edgar G. Hertwich
Summary: Scenario-based assessments are a valuable tool for exploring unknown futures and informing decision makers and the public about the potential consequences of different actions. Current developments in industrial ecology have mainly focused on specific components rather than comprehensive scenario formulation. Understanding empirically derived relationships between material cycles, services, and energy use is crucial for global scenario modeling in efforts such as integrated assessment models (IAMs).
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Stefan Pauliuk, Maximilian Koslowski, Kavya Madhu, Simon Schulte, Sebastian Kilchert
Summary: Sustainable development and digital transformation have a profound impact on industrial societies. To achieve the UN Sustainable Development goals, there is a need for alignment between these two transformations. Research has mainly focused on quantitative analysis and life cycle assessment, but future studies should also consider socio-metabolic and industrial ecology research to assess the impact of different strategies on material cycles and service demand.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rio Aryapratama, Stefan Pauliuk
Summary: The study highlights the importance of maintaining primary forests for climate change mitigation, and shows that wood products from forest plantations and reduced-impact logging pathways have carbon removal potentials. Wood product utilization is favorable only in pathways involving restored degraded land or reduced-impact logging.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Julien Pedneault, Guillaume Majeau-Bettez, Stefan Pauliuk, Manuele Margni
Summary: This article investigates the material flow of aluminum alloys and proposes a method for sustainable management of this resource. The results show that global per capita aluminum stocks will reach 200-400 kg before 2100 under different socioeconomic scenarios. The demand in different industries also shows varying growth and saturation patterns.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Linbin Tang, Peng Wang, Zijie Ma, Stefan Pauliuk, Wei-Qiang Chen, Tao Dai, Zipeng Lin
Summary: International trade is essential for balancing the supply and demand of critical raw materials such as tungsten, which are geographically unevenly distributed. However, the trade flows and networks linking participating nations have been largely unexplored, causing concerns for materials' criticality and supply risks. This study analyzes the global trade flows of tungsten and explores the evolving roles of participating countries in the trade networks. The findings demonstrate the need for cooperative actions and targeted supply chain management to secure the sustainability of the global tungsten cycle.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jan Streeck, Stefan Pauliuk, Hanspeter Wieland, Dominik Wiedenhofer
Summary: Dynamic Material Flow Analysis (dMFA) is a commonly used method for modeling stock-flow dynamics. To accurately represent material lifetimes, recycling potentials, and service provision, dMFA requires data on the allocation of material consumption to different end-use products or sectors. Previous estimates of this allocation have been limited in terms of time, geography, and product groups. Recently, several methods for estimating end-use product allocation in dMFA have been proposed, but a systematic comparison is lacking. In this study, we review and systematize five methods for tracing material consumption into end-use products and discuss their strengths and limitations. We find that Monetary Input-Output Tables (MIOTs) can provide valuable data for approximating material end-uses, and we compare and evaluate four distinct MIOT-based methods.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Soeren Lars Nungesser, Stefan Pauliuk
Summary: The global mining industry generates billions of tons of waste every year, stored in tailings ponds. Recent dam failures have raised concerns, but a lack of data makes risk assessment challenging. This study introduces a hazard indicator and investigates the copper mining industry's footprint in different regions, identifying hotspots along the supply chain.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jan Streeck, Hanspeter Wieland, Stefan Pauliuk, Barbara Plank, Kenichi Nakajima, Dominik Wiedenhofer
Summary: Modeling pathways toward sustainable production and consumption requires improving coverage of end-use product stocks in terms of space, time, and materials. Current studies on inflow-driven, dynamic material flow analysis (dMFA) extrapolate limited information on material end-use shares across longer time periods and global regions. In this work, we reviewed five methods to derive material end-use shares using industry shipment data and monetary input-output tables (MIOTs), and applied these methods to the United States and the multi-regional input-output model EXIOBASE3. We proposed the end-use transfer method to better align MIOT and dMFA definitions. Despite mixed results, combining MIOT-based end-use shares with industry shipments and country-level data could improve temporal, geographical, and end-use resolution. However, data scarcity, documentation, and quality are key limitations for more accurate and detailed end-use shares. This article met the requirements for a gold-gold data openness badge.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Stefanie Klose, Stefan Pauliuk
Summary: We evaluate the effectiveness of resource efficiency strategies for copper and find that final global copper demand will increase under the SSP2-RCP2.6 scenario. Copper demand for vehicles and transportation infrastructure will quadruple. However, improved scrap sorting and higher collection rates can decrease primary copper production in 2050. With ambitious material efficiency and demand-side sufficiency, it is possible to return to the primary copper production levels of 2020.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Correction
Energy & Fuels
Kavya Madhu, Stefan Pauliuk, Sumukha Dhathri, Felix Creutzig