GRID-TO-WHEEL EFFICIENCY AND EMISSIONS ANALYSIS OF EV: AN INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF ENERGY MIX, CHARGING BEHAVIOR, AND LIFECYCLE IMPACTS

Abstract

The use of electric vehicles (EV) is one of the major approaches that is being advocated at an accelerated rate in order to cut down greenhouse gases in the transport sector. But all the tests of their environmental performance are based on tailpipe tests: this provides an incomplete assessment that is misleading. This paper provides a grid-to-wheel (GTW) efficiency and emissions calculation of EVs along with the electricity generation mix, the behavior of charging, and the impacts of the entire lifecycle. The paper takes the form of a scenario-based quantitative study of fossil-intensive, hybrid, and renewable-dominated grid systems and different types of charging, such as uncontrolled residential charging, smart off-peak charging, and fast-charging intensive usage. Findings indicate that although the energy per kilometer covered by EV does not change much, operational emissions can be made to differ significantly based on grid carbon intensity and charging habits. Lifecycle assessment indicates that the manufacturing of batteries and vehicles is a major contributor to the overall emissions, especially in the low-carbon electricity environment, but operation of these contributes to the overall emissions under the fossil-intensive grids. It can be comparatively analyzed with internal combustion engine vehicles that EVs have reduced overall lifecycle emissions in most cases, and the largest benefits are found when EVs are combined with renewable electricity and controlled charging solutions. On the whole, the results demonstrate that the environmental advantages of EVs are not universal but conditional and require the joint efforts of decarbonization of the grids, optimally equipped charging stations, and generative manufacturing. The paper gives a policy-relevant information on how to align transport electrification with energy system transitions.