Life cycle impacts and sustainability considerations are unique to a specific vehicle design. This paper compares initial life cycle impacts and sustainability considerations of an electric, hybrid and two conventional vehicles.
The analysis provides comparable information for vehicle usage, design, product limitation, battery implications, life-span factors, environmental impacts, maintenance, user requirements, recyclability, recoverability, energy consumptions and the sustainability for these vehicles.
The evaluation provides value for automotive designers, component suppliers and end users. A variety of design intentions to reduce vehicle weight, improve efficiency and increase technological innovation; can be challenged by end user requirements, in this quantitative approach.