『Abstract
A well-to-wheels life cycle analysis on total energy consumptions
and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions for alternative fuels and accompanying
vehicle technologies has been carried out for the base year 2010
and projected to 2020 based on data gathered and estimates developed
for China. The fuels considered include gasoline, diesel, natural
gas, liquid fuels from coal conversion, methanol, bio-ethanol
and biodiesel, electricity and hydrogen. Use of liquid fuels including
methanol and Fischer-Tropsch derived from coal will significantly
increase GHG emissions relative to use of conventional gasoline.
Use of starch-based bio-ethanol will incur a substantial carbon
disbenefit because of the present highly inefficient agricultural
practice and plant processing in China. Electrification of vehicles
via hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and battery
electric vehicle technologies offers a progressively improved
prospect for the reduction of energy consumption and GHG emission.
However, the long-term carbon emission reduction is assured only
when the needed electricity is generated by zero- or low-carbon
sources, when means that carbon capture and storage is a necessity
for fossil-based feedstocks. A PHEV that runs on zero- or low-carbon
electricity and cellulosic ethanol may be one of the most attractive
fuel-vehicle options in a carbon-constrained world.
Keywords: Well-to-wheels analysis; Alternative fuels; Vehicle
technologies』
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. The fuel pathways
3.1. Petroleum
3.2. Natural gas
3.3. Coal
3.4. Biomass
3.5. Electricity and hydrogen
3.6. Carbon capture and storage
4. The vehicle pathways
5. Results
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgment
References