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Life Cycle GHG of NG-Based Fuel and Electric Vehicle in China

Xunmin Ou, Xiliang Zhang, Xu Zhang and Qian Zhang
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Xunmin Ou: Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy (3E), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xiliang Zhang: Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy (3E), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xu Zhang: Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy (3E), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Qian Zhang: Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy (3E), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Energies, 2013, vol. 6, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: This paper compares the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of natural gas (NG)- based fuels to the GHG emissions of electric vehicles (EVs) powered with NG-to-electricity in China. A life-cycle model is used to account for full fuel cycle and use-phase emissions, as well as vehicle cycle and battery manufacturing. The reduction of life-cycle GHG emissions of EVs charged by electricity generated from NG, without utilizing carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology can be 36%–47% when compared to gasoline vehicles. The large range change in emissions reduction potential is driven by the different generation technologies that could in the future be used to generate electricity in China. When CCS is employed in power plants, the GHG emission reductions increase to about 71%–73% compared to gasoline vehicles. It is found that compressed NG (CNG) and liquefied NG (LNG) fuels can save about 10% of carbon as compared to gasoline vehicles. However, gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel made through the Fischer-Tropsch method will likely lead to a life-cycle GHG emissions increase, potentially 3%–15% higher than gasoline, but roughly equal to petroleum-based diesel. When CCS is utilized, the GTL fueled vehicles emit roughly equal GHG emissions to petroleum-based diesel fuel high-efficient hybrid electric vehicle from the life-cycle perspective.

Keywords: NG-based fuel; vehicle; GHG; life cycle analysis; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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