Comparative life cycle assessment of conventional combustion engine vehicle, battery electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle in Nepal

Battery electric vehicles (BEV) and Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) are taking momentum as an alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV). Prospects of clean transportation and congruence with zero tailpipe emission are principal reasons for the adornment of these alternate technologies. This study aims to examine the collateral environmental impacts (GHG-100) that come alongside the production, use phase and end-life of ICEV, BEV and FCEV in the present context of Nepal. The current study uses a Cradle to Grave approach to compare the life cycle assessments (LCA) of Hyundai Tucson (2021), Hyundai Kona Electric 2021, and Hyundai Nexo Blue 2021 manufactured in South Korea (SK). Similarly, the LCA is performed under future scenarios of surplus electricity in Nepal and advancements in technologies. The results show that with the current import of 32% electricity from India, BEV and FCEV have 187- and 922-g total carbon dioxide equivalent (gCO2eq) greenhouse gas (GHG) emission per kilometer respectively, which is 507 gCO(2)-eq/km for ICEV under the 200,000 km lifetime assumption of vehicles. The upstream emission for both the BEV and FCEV is poised to decrease by 88% with the surplus electricity scenario in Nepal, reducing 82% of the total emission of FCEV and 50% of BEV contributing to a cleaner local and global environment. Electricity sources significantly affect GHG emissions in both the production and use phases. Use of renewable electricity sources, and improvement in battery and fuel cell technologies reducing vehicle production supply chain impact with sharpened guidelines and policies regarding e-mobility, BEV and FCEV present themselves as promising alternative transportation technologies.

Automated summary

Battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles are gaining momentum as alternatives to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. This study compares the environmental impacts of three vehicle models in the context of Nepal and finds that using renewable electricity sources and advanced technologies can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making electric vehicles promising alternatives for a cleaner environment.