Resource Efficiency Assessment—Comparing a Plug-In Hybrid with a Conventional Combustion Engine

Martin Henßler, Vanessa Bach, Markus Berger, Matthias Finkbeiner and Klaus Ruhland
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Martin Henßler: Group Environmental Protection, Daimler AG, Stuttgart 70546, Germany
Vanessa Bach: Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin 10623, Germany
Markus Berger: Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin 10623, Germany
Matthias Finkbeiner: Chair of Sustainable Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin 10623, Germany
Klaus Ruhland: Group Environmental Protection, Daimler AG, Stuttgart 70546, Germany

Resources, 2016, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: The strong economic growth in recent years has led to an intensive use of natural resources, which causes environmental stress as well as restrictions on the availability of resources. Therefore, a more efficient use of resources is necessary as an important contribution to sustainable development. The ESSENZ method presented in this article comprehensively assesses a product’s resource efficiency by going beyond existing approaches and considering the pollution of the environment as well as the physical and socio-economic availability of resources. This paper contains a short description of the ESSENZ methodology as well as a case study of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W 205)—comparing the conventional C 250 (petrol engine) with the C 350 e Plug-In Hybrid (electric motor and petrol engine). By applying the ESSENZ method it can be shown that the use of more and different materials for the Plug-In-Hybrid influences the dimensions physical and socio-economic availability significantly. However, for environmental impacts, especially climate change and summer smog, clear advantages of the C 350 e occur due to lower demand of fossil energy carriers. As shown within the case study, the when applying the ESSENZ method a comprehensive evaluation of the used materials and fossil energy carriers can be achieved.

Keywords: resource efficiency; life cycle assessment; physical availability; socio-economic availability; environmental impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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