Battery electric vehicles have gained popularity in the transport sector of late
and are considered to emit lower greenhouse gas emissions than their internal
combustion engine-powered counterparts. This study conducted a “cradle-to-grave”
lifecycle assessment for two sets of battery electric, hybrid electric, and
internal combustion engine vehicles sold in India to assess which powertrain
emits lower greenhouse gas emissions during their lifetime. The system
boundaries of the “cradle-to-grave” analysis consist of vehicle manufacturing,
usage, maintenance, recycling of components, and finally, disposal. The
“well-to-wheel” analysis includes oil extraction, feedstock cultivation,
transportation, refining, fuel production, blending, and supply. This study
considered India’s electricity generation mix from thermal, nuclear, solar,
wind, and hydropower plants in different regions for 2020–2021. Greenhouse gas
emissions from all three categories of vehicles were calculated for a lifespan
of 200,000 km driven over 10 years, with the functional unit being per km.
Sensitivity analysis for one-time battery replacement, region-wise electricity
generation mix, along with the effect of ambient temperature on fuel economy,
ethanol–gasoline blends, and distance traveled during vehicle lifetime, is
considered in this study. The study concluded that the “well-to-pump” GHG
emissions were more for ethanol than gasoline. Hybrid vehicles fueled with
ethanol–gasoline blend emitted fewer greenhouse emissions than the other two
powertrains for both combinations.
