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Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Liquefied Natural Gas and Diesel Tractor-Trailer in China

Author

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  • Shuhan Hu

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Hongyuan Chen

    (SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201800, China
    State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China)

Abstract

Many countries, especially China, have extensively promoted liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace diesel in heavy-duty vehicles for to achieve sustainable transport aims, including carbon peaks and neutrality. We developed a life-cycle calculation model for environmental load differences covering vehicle and fuel cycles to comprehensively compare the LNG tractor-trailer and its diesel counterpart in China on a full suite of environmental impacts. We found that the LNG tractor-trailer consumes less aluminum but more iron and energy; emits less nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, nonmethane volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter but more greenhouse gases (GHG) and carbon monoxide (CO); and causes less abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential, and human toxicity potential impacts but more global warming potential (GWP) and photooxidant creation potential (POCP) impacts. Poor fuel economy was found to largely drive the higher life-cycle GHG and CO emissions and GWP and POCP impacts of the LNG tractor-trailer. Switching to the LNG tractor-trailer could reduce carbon dioxide by 52.73%, GWP impact by 44.60% and POCP impact by 49.23% if it attains parity fuel economy with its diesel counterpart. Policymakers should modify the regulations on fuel tax and vehicle access, which discourage improvement in LNG engine efficiency and adopt incentive polices to develop the technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuhan Hu & Hongyuan Chen, 2022. "Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Liquefied Natural Gas and Diesel Tractor-Trailer in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:392-:d:718581
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Song, Hongqing & Ou, Xunmin & Yuan, Jiehui & Yu, Mingxu & Wang, Cheng, 2017. "Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of diesel/LNG heavy-duty vehicle fleets in China based on a bottom-up model analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 966-978.
    2. Yuan, Zhiyi & Ou, Xunmin & Peng, Tianduo & Yan, Xiaoyu, 2019. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of multi-pathways natural gas vehicles in china considering methane leakage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Küng, Lukas & Bütler, Thomas & Georges, Gil & Boulouchos, Konstantinos, 2019. "How much energy does a car need on the road?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    4. Khan, Muhammad Imran & Yasmin, Tabassum & Shakoor, Abdul, 2015. "Technical overview of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a transportation fuel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 785-797.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stettler, Marc E.J. & Woo, Mino & Ainalis, Daniel & Achurra-Gonzalez, Pablo & Speirs, Jamie & Cooper, Jasmin & Lim, Dong-Ha & Brandon, Nigel & Hawkes, Adam, 2023. "Review of Well-to-Wheel lifecycle emissions of liquefied natural gas heavy goods vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    2. Ayman Elshkaki & Lei Shen, 2022. "Energy Transition towards Carbon Neutrality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-5, July.

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