Exploring the potential of e-mobility to improve resource efficiency through scenario-based life cycle analysis

The transport sector is the second largest emitter of GHG emissions in the EU and about two thirds of the emissions are generated from road transport. More importantly, while emissions from other sectors have shown a consistent decreasing trend, GHG emissions from transport have continued to rise and were 20.5% above 1990 levels in 2012, despite important improvements in vehicle efficiency. The electrification of the car float using vehicles running on plug-in electricity for their primary energy or e-mobility, has been considered a central option to improve the environmental efficiency of the transport sector and a key element to achieve the required Transport White Paper target of 60% decrease of GHG emissions by 2050. Although important innovations have been made in recent years, the requirements for e- mobility and also its implications are not always well understood. This papers uses a combination of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and scenario modeling to explore the energy and resource implications of e-mobility and helps to understand the contribution of e-mobility to the transport sector GHG reduction target but, more generally, to resource efficiency. Based on a comprehensive LCA, which covers e-cars from cradle to grave – i.e. manufacturing, use and disposal/recycling, the analysis builds three differentiated scenarios of e-mobility for 2050, based on different assumptions with regards to road transport use, e-car share and energy mix, as well as powertrain efficiency and recycling rate. Environmental impacts, energy savings and resource implications are analyzed for each of these scenarios. Based on these findings, the paper draws conclusions about policy mixes to promote resource efficiency in the transport sector and the role of e-mobility in a resource efficient economy.