Establishing a harmonised framework for life cycle impact assessment: consensus for zero emission vehicles
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 31
Abstract
Abstract Purpose This study focuses on developing a harmonized Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodology tailored for Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) within the European context. It also addresses the need for consistency, transparency, and scientific robustness across environmental impact assessments of ZEVs. Methods A structured three-step consensus-building process comprising state-of-the-art review, recommendation formulation, and stakeholder voting was implemented. This included expert input from academia, industry, and policy, supported by data from key LCA studies databases and software’s. Results and discussion Through stakeholder voting, seven impact categories including climate change, particulate matter, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical ozone formation and cumulative energy demand (CED) are defined as mandatory together with hydrogen emission flow. Normalisation using planetary boundary-based factors are recommended, while weighting was excluded due to its subjective nature. Optional impact categories and areas requiring further development, such as dissipation and biodiversity, are also discussed and recommendations made. Conclusions and recommendations The proposed framework establishes a robust, transparent, and science-driven LCIA framework for ZEVs. It enables consistency in environmental evaluations and informs policy and industry practices. Future revisions should incorporate emerging indicators and evolving data quality improvements.
Authors 13
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Sustainability in Civil Engineering, RWTH, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Renault Group, Ampere, 1 av. du Golf, Guyancourt, 78084, France
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, Leiden, 2333 CC, The Netherlands
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Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Laboratoire d’Innovation pour les Technologies des Énergies Nouvelles et les nanomatériaux · CEA Grenoble
Affiliation as printed
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Liten, DEHT, Grenoble, 38000, France
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Affiliation as printed
Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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Institut polytechnique de Grenoble · Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Laboratoire d’Innovation pour les Technologies des Énergies Nouvelles et les nanomatériaux · CEA Grenoble · Laboratoire des Sciences pour la Conception, l'Optimisation et la Production · Université Grenoble Alpes
Affiliation as printed
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, Liten, DEHT, Grenoble, 38000, France
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble-INP, G-SCOP, COSYS, Grenoble, 38000, France
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Affiliation as printed
Ricardo, London, W2 6LA, UK
School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Ricardo, London, W2 6LA, UK
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Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières
Affiliation as printed
BRGM, Orléans, F-45060, France
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Électricité de France (France)
Affiliation as printed
Electricité de France, EDF Lab Les Renardières, Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne, 77250, France
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Agence de la transition écologique
Affiliation as printed
ADEME, Montrouge, F-92120, France
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Sustainability in Civil Engineering, RWTH, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Sustainability in Civil Engineering, RWTH, Aachen, Germany
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