Life Cycle Assessment of New Energy Vehicles

This project will research to what extent the promotion of new energy vehicles can be justified by the environmental benefits of their production, in-use and EOL. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a holistic approach able to study the environmental impacts on a whole life basis. Candidate will identify the knowledge gap and research questions such as raised by recent studies (Huang et al., 2022). It is expected that LCA modelling of comparing vehicles over their supply chains for defined trip purposes will be carried out, in accordance with ISO14040. The system boundary will include vehicle lifecycle (e.g. raw material acquisition, manufacture and distribution, use and EOL) and fuel lifecycle (e.g. well-to-wheel). This will be followed by case studies to test and calibrate the model. Reference will be made to the technological context where the vehicles are manufactured and in use, and considering the electricity or hydrogen generation method.<br /> <br /> Desk studies, environmental impact modelling and surveys are likely to be carried out. Primary data for the production and EOL management shall be obtained. Sensitivity analysis will be required to evaluate the assumptions, data and methodological choices. Results should be interested to other researchers in related areas such as zero emission vehicles (ZEV) and circular economy. Results may also be used to advise public behaviour, such as vehicle choice and charging behaviour (Faria et al., 2013) or for policy decision support, with an aim to maximise the benefits of new energy vehicles. Scope of this project is likely to focus on battery or fuel cell electric cars, whereas methods can be further developed to include public transport vehicles and freight, which currently are not well served by new energy vehicles (Cano et al., 2018).

<h2 style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><strong>Project Background</strong></h2> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Compared with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs) release less air pollutants on roads. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) are another attractive alternative for their long range and short refuelling time. The emission profiles (including CO2) of these new energy vehicles depend on how the fuel is produced. Previous studies (Miotti et al., 2017) concluded that FCVs and BEVs only lead to lower GHGs emissions than ICEVs if their power is sourced from renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydro. On the other hand, the coding of fuels such as green, blue or grey hydrogen based entirely on renewable or non-renewable is superficial for not duly considering the supply chain and thus flawed with uncertainty (Dawood et al., 2020).</p> <p>Moreover, the manufacture of new energy vehicles have different emission profiles compared to vehicles powered by fossil fuels. A major contributor to these emissions is the extraction, production and disposal of rare minerals such as required for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Recycling will help to reduce lifecycle emissions (Messagie et al., 2014), but the current design of battery packs for BEVs is not optimised for easy disassembly, and the lack of standardisation in their design presents challenges for future automation (Harper et al., 2019). Recent studies (Ciez and Whitacre, 2019) have indicated that the current recycling practice in BEVs batteries may not in all cases result in a reduction in GHGs compared to primary production. In addition to global warming potential (GWP), there are trading-off impacts, such as acidification and human toxicity, associated with different End-of-Life (EOL) options for vehicles and parts. With the growing number of BEVs and FCVs being manufactured annually, it is important to know the lifecycle environmental impacts of these vehicles.</p> <h2><strong>Method and Scope</strong></h2> <p>This project will research to what extent the promotion of new energy vehicles can be justified by the environmental benefits of their production, in-use and EOL. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a holistic approach able to study the environmental impacts on a whole life basis. Candidate will identify the knowledge gap and research questions such as raised by recent studies (Huang et al., 2022). It is expected that LCA modelling of comparing vehicles over their supply chains for defined trip purposes will be carried out, in accordance with ISO14040. The system boundary will include vehicle lifecycle (e.g. raw material acquisition, manufacture and distribution, use and EOL) and fuel lifecycle (e.g. well-to-wheel). This will be followed by case studies to test and calibrate the model. Reference will be made to the technological context where the vehicles are manufactured and in use, and considering the electricity or hydrogen generation method.</p> <p>Desk studies, environmental impact modelling and surveys are likely to be carried out. Primary data for the production and EOL management shall be obtained. Sensitivity analysis will be required to evaluate the assumptions, data and methodological choices. Results should be interested to other researchers in related areas such as zero emission vehicles (ZEV) and circular economy. Results may also be used to advise public behaviour, such as vehicle choice and charging behaviour (Faria et al., 2013) or for policy decision support, with an aim to maximise the benefits of new energy vehicles. Scope of this project is likely to focus on battery or fuel cell electric cars, whereas methods can be further developed to include public transport vehicles and freight, which currently are not well served by new energy vehicles (Cano et al., 2018).</p> <h2><strong>References</strong></h2> <p>CANO, Z. P., BANHAM, D., YE, S., HINTENNACH, A., LU, J., FOWLER, M. & CHEN, Z. 2018. Batteries and fuel cells for emerging electric vehicle markets. Nature Energy, 3, 279-289.</p> <p>CIEZ, R. E. & WHITACRE, J. F. 2019. Examining different recycling processes for lithium-ion batteries. Nature Sustainability, 2, 148-156.</p> <p>DAWOOD, F., ANDA, M. & SHAFIULLAH, G. M. 2020. Hydrogen production for energy: An overview. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45, 3847-3869.</p> <p>FARIA, R., MARQUES, P., MOURA, P., FREIRE, F., DELGADO, J. & DE ALMEIDA, A. T. 2013. Impact of the electricity mix and use profile in the life-cycle assessment of electric vehicles. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 24, 271-287.</p> <p>HARPER, G., SOMMERVILLE, R., KENDRICK, E., DRISCOLL, L., SLATER, P., STOLKIN, R., WALTON, A., CHRISTENSEN, P., HEIDRICH, O., LAMBERT, S., ABBOTT, A., RYDER, K., GAINES, L. & ANDERSON, P. 2019. Recycling lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles. Nature, 575, 75-86.</p> <p>HUANG, Y., JIANG, L., CHEN, H., DAVE, K. & PARRY, T. 2022. Comparative life cycle assessment of electric bikes for commuting in the UK. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 105, 103213.</p> <p>MESSAGIE, M., BOUREIMA, F.-S., COOSEMANS, T., MACHARIS, C. & MIERLO, J. V. 2014. A Range-Based Vehicle Life Cycle Assessment Incorporating Variability in the Environmental Assessment of Different Vehicle Technologies and Fuels. Energies, 7, 1467-1482.</p> <p>MIOTTI, M., HOFER, J. & BAUER, C. 2017. Integrated environmental and economic assessment of current and future fuel cell vehicles. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 22, 94-110.</p>

<p>Formal applications for research degree study to the <strong>Institute for Transport Studies</strong> should be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <strong>Life Cycle Assessment of New Energy Vehicles</strong> as well as <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/transport/staff/941/dr-yue-huang">Dr Yue Huang</a> as your proposed supervisor.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, but UK black and minority ethnic (BME) researchers are currently under-represented in our Postgraduate Research community, and we would therefore particularly encourage applications from UK BME candidates. All scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit.</em></p>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p>This position is unfunded so we are seeking a candidate who could be either <strong>self-funded</strong>, has been <strong>awarded a scholarship</strong> <strong>to conduct a PhD in the UK</strong>, or<strong> an applicant who is applying for a scholarship they have already identifed.</strong></p>

<p>For further information please contact the Graduate School Office<br /> e: <a href="mailto:env-pgr@leeds.ac.uk?subject=PhD%20at%20Leeds%3A%20Life%20Cycle%20Assessment%20of%20New%20Energy%20Vehicles">ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk</a> </p>