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Greenhouse gas emission benefits of adopting new energy vehicles in Suzhou City, China: A case study

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Abstract

The promotion of new energy in light-duty vehicles (LDVs) is considered as an effective approach for achieving low-carbon road transport targets. In this study, life cycle assessment was performed for five typical vehicle models in Suzhou City (fourth largest LDV stock in China): internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV). Their energy consumption, and greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions during vehicle and fuel cycles in 2020 were examined using the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model. GHG emission reduction potential of LDV fleet was projected under various scenarios for 2021–2040. The results showed that BEVs exhibited advantages for replacing ICEVs over HEVs, PHEVs and HFCVs, taking into account China’s road electrification policy. The GHG emission intensity of BEVs in 2040 was estimated to be 19–34% of ICEVs in 2020, with a deep decarbonized electricity mix and improved vehicle efficiency. For the aggressive Sustainable Development Scenario, the GHG emissions of LDVs would peak before 2026, ahead of China’s target by 2030, and the ~ 100% share of EVs in 2040 would result in a lower GHG emissions, equivalent to the 2010 level. It highlights the importance of early action, green electricity mix, and public transport development in reducing GHG emissions of large LDV fleet.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge the support from the Qinglan Project for Jiangsu Colleges and Universities, China.

Funding

This study was supported by National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of College Students, China (202110332030Z), and Suzhou Social Development Science and Technology Innovation Project, China (SS202114).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Cui Da and Xinyu Gu contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, No. 1 Kerui Road, Suzhou, 215009, People’s Republic of China

    Cui Da, Xinyu Gu, Chunchen Lu, Ruiqi Hua, Xinyue Chang, Yuanyuan Cheng & Feiyue Qian

  2. Suzhou Foreign Language School, No. 201 Zhuyuan Road, Suzhou, 215011, People’s Republic of China

    Yiheng Wang

Authors
  1. Cui Da
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  2. Xinyu Gu
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Contributions

Cui Da and Xinyu Gu conducted writing—original draft, data analysis and funding acquisition; Chunchen Lu, Ruiqi Hua and Xinyue Chang conducted methodology, data collection and writing-review & editing; Yuanyuan Cheng conducted supervision, writing-review & editing and data analysis; Feiyue Qian conducted funding acquisition, conceptualization, supervision, and writing—review & editing; Yiheng Wang conducted data collection and analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Feiyue Qian.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Highlights.

• HEVs and PHEVs can significantly improve fuel economy compared to ICEVs.

• Rapid adoption of BEVs would help achieve a carbon peak before 2025 in Suzhou City.

• Deep decarbonization and efficiency improvement can reduce GHG emission intensity.

• With a nearly 100% BEVs in 2040, GHG emission can decrease to the 2010 level.

Supplementary Information

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Supplementary file1 (PDF 396 KB)

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Da, C., Gu, X., Lu, C. et al. Greenhouse gas emission benefits of adopting new energy vehicles in Suzhou City, China: A case study. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 76286–76297 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21284-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21284-w

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