Considered as one of the most promising technology pathways for the transport
sector to realize the target of “carbon neutral,” fuel cell vehicles have been
seriously discussed in terms of its potential for alleviating environmental
burden. Focused on cradle-to-gate (CtG) stage, this article evaluates the
environmental impacts of fuel cell heavy-duty vehicles of three size classes and
three driving ranges to find the critical components and manufacturing processes
in the energy context of China. The findings show that the greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions of the investigated fuel cell heavy-duty vehicle range from 47 ton
CO2-eq to 162 ton CO2-eq, with the fuel cell system
and hydrogen storage system collectively contributing to 37%–56% of the total.
Notably, as the driving range increases, the proportion of GHG emissions
stemming from fuel cell-related components also rises. Within the fuel cell
system, the catalyst layer and bipolar plate are identified as the components
with the most significant impacts, accounting for 62.9% and 32.7%, respectively,
of the total GHG emissions from a fuel cell stack. The fundamental materials
constituting these components namely, platinum, titanium, and carbon black are
thus of considerable significance in the emission profile of the fuel cell
stack. For the hydrogen storage system, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)
layer stands out as the most important component, constituting 98% of the total
GHG emissions. It is suggested that GHG emissions from fuel cell systems and
hydrogen storage systems can be effectively curtailed by implementing strategies
such as grid decarbonization, reducing Pt loading in catalysts, and enhancing
fuel cell power density. Additionally, the potential for GHG emissions reduction
in fuel cell heavy-duty vehicles can be reinforced through the adoption of
lightweight materials and the integration of low-carbon alternatives into the
glider components.
