A techno-economic life cycle assessment of H2 fuelled and electrified urban buses

IF 11 1区工程技术 Q1 ENERGY & FUELS

Applied Energy Pub Date : 2025-09-18 DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126738

B. Peiretti Paradisi, L. Pulvirenti, A. Vinogradov, L. Rolando, A. Piano, F. Millo, M. Prussi

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Abstract

Nowadays, several technologies based on powertrain electrification and the exploitation of hydrogen represent valuable options for decarbonizing the on-road public transport sector. The considered alternatives should exhibit an effective benchmark between CO₂ reduction potential and production/operational costs. Conducting a comprehensive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, coupled with a thorough Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is therefore crucial in shaping the future for cleaner urban mobility. From this perspective, this study compares different powertrain configurations for a 12 m urban bus: a conventional diesel Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV), a series hybrid diesel, two hydrogen-based series hybrid vehicles: a Hydrogen Hybrid Electric Vehicle featuring an H2-ICE (H2-HEV) or a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), and a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). Moreover, a sensitivity analysis has been conducted on the carbon footprint for power generation, considering also the marginal electricity mix. In addition, prospective LCA and TCO elements are introduced by addressing future technological projections for the 2030 horizon. The research reveals that, as of today, the BEV and hydrogen-fueled vehicles have comparable environmental impacts when the marginal electricity mix is considered. The techno-economic analysis indicates that, under current conditions, FCEVs and H2-HEVs are not cost-effective for CO₂ reduction unless powered by renewable energy sources. However, considering future technological advancements and market evolution, FCEVs offer the most promising balance between economic and environmental benefits, particularly if hydrogen prices reach €4 per kilogram. If hydrogen-powered vehicles remain a niche market, BEVs will be the most viable option for decarbonizing the transport sector in most European countries.

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氢燃料和电气化城市客车的技术经济生命周期评价

如今，基于动力系统电气化和氢开发的几种技术为道路公共交通部门的脱碳提供了有价值的选择。所考虑的替代方案应在二氧化碳减排潜力和生产/业务成本之间显示出有效的基准。因此，开展全面的总体拥有成本（TCO）分析以及全面的生命周期评估（LCA）对于塑造更清洁的城市交通的未来至关重要。从这个角度来看，本研究比较了12米城市公共汽车的不同动力系统配置：传统柴油内燃机汽车（ICEV），系列混合动力柴油，两种氢基系列混合动力汽车：氢混合动力汽车具有H2-ICE （H2-HEV）或燃料电池电动汽车（FCEV）和电池电动汽车（BEV）。此外，考虑到边际电力结构，对发电碳足迹进行了敏感性分析。此外，通过解决2030年的未来技术预测，引入了潜在的LCA和TCO元素。研究表明，到目前为止，考虑到边际电力结构，纯电动汽车和氢燃料汽车对环境的影响相当。技术经济分析表明，在目前的条件下，如果不使用可再生能源，fcev和h2 - hev在减少CO₂方面并不具有成本效益。然而，考虑到未来的技术进步和市场发展，氢燃料电池汽车在经济和环境效益之间提供了最有希望的平衡，特别是如果氢价格达到每公斤4欧元。如果氢动力汽车仍然是一个利基市场，那么纯电动汽车将是大多数欧洲国家交通部门脱碳的最可行选择。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Energy 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

21.20

自引率

10.70%

发文量

1830

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Applied Energy serves as a platform for sharing innovations, research, development, and demonstrations in energy conversion, conservation, and sustainable energy systems. The journal covers topics such as optimal energy resource use, environmental pollutant mitigation, and energy process analysis. It welcomes original papers, review articles, technical notes, and letters to the editor. Authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts that bridge the gap between research, development, and implementation. The journal addresses a wide spectrum of topics, including fossil and renewable energy technologies, energy economics, and environmental impacts. Applied Energy also explores modeling and forecasting, conservation strategies, and the social and economic implications of energy policies, including climate change mitigation. It is complemented by the open-access journal Advances in Applied Energy.