The transportation sector faces heightened scrutiny to implement sustainable
technologies due to market trends, escalating climate change and dwindling
fossil fuel reserves. Given the decarbonization efforts underway in the sector,
there are now rising concerns over the sustainability challenges in electric
vehicle (EV) adoption. This study leverages ISO 14040 Lifecycle Assessment
methodology to evaluate EVs, internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), and
hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) spanning cradle-to-grave lifecycle phases. To
accomplish this an enhanced triadic sustainability metric (TSM) is introduced
that integrates greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), energy consumption, and resource
depletion. Results indicate EVs emit approximately 29% fewer GHG emissions than
ICEVs but about 4% more than HEVs on the current the US grid, with breakeven
sustainability achieved within a moderate mileage range compared to ICEVs.
Renewable energy integration on the grid significantly enhances EV performance,
reducing emissions up to 31% with full renewable adoption, thereby lowering
breakeven mileage substantially. The TSM framework clearly highlights optimal EV
sustainability under 50%–70% renewable scenarios versus ICEVs and HEVs, offering
policy makers a balanced metric for decision-making. These findings provide
actionable frameworks for automotive engineers and policy makers to advance
sustainable transportation through renewable grid upgrades and optimized battery
design.
