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Environmental Life-cycle Assessment of Passenger Transportation An Energy, Greenhouse Gas, and Criteria Pollutant Inventory of Rail and Air Transportation

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  • Horvath, Arpad
  • Chester, Mikhail

Abstract

The passenger transportation modes of rail and air are critical systems relied upon for business and leisure. When considering their environmental effects, most studies and policy focus on the fuel use of the vehicles, and ignore the energy and other resource inputs and environmental outputs from the life cycles of other components. Vehicle manufacturing and maintenance, infrastructure construction and operation, and fuel production are rarely included in environmental factors for transportation systems. The goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive life-cycle assessment model to quantify the energy inputs and emissions from rail and air transportation in the U.S. associated with the life-cycle components (raw materials extraction, manufacturing, construction, operation, maintenance) of the vehicles, infrastructures, and fuels involved in these systems. Energy inputs are quantified as well as greenhouse gas and criteria air pollutant outputs. Inventory results are normalized to effects per passenger-mile traveled. Results show that energy and greenhouse gas emissions increase by as much as 2.1 times for heavy rail, 1.4 times for high speed rail, and 1.3 times for air when life-cycle components are included. Criteria air pollutant emissions increase between 1.1-29 times for heavy rail, 1.2-1.4 times for high speed rail, and 1.5-9 times for air.

Suggested Citation

  • Horvath, Arpad & Chester, Mikhail, 2008. "Environmental Life-cycle Assessment of Passenger Transportation An Energy, Greenhouse Gas, and Criteria Pollutant Inventory of Rail and Air Transportation," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt6m5865v5, University of California Transportation Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:uctcwp:qt6m5865v5
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    Cited by:

    1. Ganson, Chris, 2008. "The Transportation Greenhouse Gas Inventory: A First Step Toward City-Driven Emissions Rationalization," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt8255z4qb, University of California Transportation Center.
    2. Michel Noussan & Edoardo Campisi & Matteo Jarre, 2022. "Carbon Intensity of Passenger Transport Modes: A Review of Emission Factors, Their Variability and the Main Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Daniel Rey Aldana & Francisco Reyes Santias & Pilar Mazón Ramos & Manuel Portela Romero & Sergio Cinza Sanjurjo & Belén Álvarez Álvarez & Rosa Agra Bermejo & Francisco Gude Sampedro & José R. González, 2021. "Cost and Potential Savings of Electronic Consultation and Its Relationship with Reduction in Atmospheric Pollution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Luca D’Acierno & Matteo Tanzilli & Chiara Tescione & Luigi Pariota & Luca Di Costanzo & Salvatore Chiaradonna & Marilisa Botte, 2022. "Adoption of Micro-Mobility Solutions for Improving Environmental Sustainability: Comparison among Transportation Systems in Urban Contexts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Ali Enes Dingil & Federico Rupi & Domokos Esztergár-Kiss, 2021. "An Integrative Review of Socio-Technical Factors Influencing Travel Decision-Making and Urban Transport Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.
    6. Morten Simonsen & Hans Jakob Walnum, 2011. "Energy Chain Analysis of Passenger Car Transport," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-28, February.
    7. Gassner, Andreas & Lederer, Jakob & Kanitschar, Georg & Ossberger, Markus & Fellner, Johann, 2018. "Extended ecological footprint for different modes of urban public transport: The case of Vienna, Austria," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 85-99.

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