Carbon Footprint of a Windshield Reinforcement Component for a Sport Utility Vehicle

Michele Maria Tedesco, Federico Bruno, Silvia Lazzari, Marco Lattore, Mauro Palumbo, Paola Rizzi and Marcello Baricco ()
Additional contact information
Michele Maria Tedesco: Centro Ricerche Fiat (C.R.F.) S.C.p.A. (Società Consortile per Azioni), Corso Settembrini 40, 10135 Torino, Italy
Federico Bruno: Centro Ricerche Fiat (C.R.F.) S.C.p.A. (Società Consortile per Azioni), Corso Settembrini 40, 10135 Torino, Italy
Silvia Lazzari: Stellantis N.V. (Naamloze Vennootschap), Corso Agnelli 220, 10135 Torino, Italy
Marco Lattore: Stellantis N.V. (Naamloze Vennootschap), Corso Agnelli 220, 10135 Torino, Italy
Mauro Palumbo: Department of Chemistry and NIS (Nanomaterials for Industry and Sustainability), INSTM (Istituto Nazionale di Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali), University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy
Paola Rizzi: Department of Chemistry and NIS (Nanomaterials for Industry and Sustainability), INSTM (Istituto Nazionale di Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali), University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy
Marcello Baricco: Department of Chemistry and NIS (Nanomaterials for Industry and Sustainability), INSTM (Istituto Nazionale di Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali), University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: In this study, the carbon footprint of a steel-based windshield reinforcement component assembled in a sport utility vehicle was calculated in three different stages: steelmaking, stamping, and middle-of-use. Possible solutions to decrease carbon emissions were evidenced, such as the purchasing of steel made through low-impact technologies and the exploitation of the green energy grid to power up stamping machines. The life cycle assessment methodology was used to calculate the carbon footprint. Four different steels provided by different suppliers were compared in order to highlight the greenest material for both the steelmaking and stamping processes and the best supplier from an environmental point of view. In addition, the carbon footprint related to the component weight in vehicles with different traction set-ups, i.e., internal combustion engine, mild hybrid electric, and battery electric, was reported. To reduce the carbon footprint, electric arc furnace-based steelmaking and cold stamping were the best options. In addition, component weight reduction (for instance, changing materials) allowed a decrease in fuel and/or energy consumption, with carbon footprint benefits.

Keywords: automotive; LCA; AHSS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:24:p:11263-:d:1550062

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