Social Life Cycle Analysis of Zero Emission Heavy-duty Trucks
California has implemented ambitious policies to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air toxins from the transport sector for both passenger vehicles and trucks. Most recently, the Advanced Clean Fleet and Advanced Clean Truck rules mandate a transition to zero emission trucks by 2042 for the entire state. These regulations are based on tailpipe emissions. While reducing tailpipe emissions is critical for reducing the health impacts of emissions on local populations, the operation/use phase is only one phase of the truck life cycle that produces emissions. From a climate change perspective, the emissions generated over the entire life of the truck is a more appropriate measure for GHG reduction. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been developed for this purpose. There are two types of LCA: environmental LCA (E-LCA) and social LCA (S-LCA). E-LCA looks at inputs (water, electricity, energy) and outputs (GHGs, other emissions/toxins) to calculate a normalized environmental footprint over a product's life. S-LCA analyzes a product's social and socio-economic aspects to identify site-specific supply chain impacts (where the activities occur), both positive and negative, for each phase (material acquisition, transformation, distribution, etc.). Impact categories include health, safety, and working conditions for various stakeholder groups. Taken together, these tools can provide a comprehensive assessment of both environmental and social impacts. Building on their previous research on E-LCA for heavy-duty trucks, the researchers will conduct a S-LCA analysis to assess the social impacts of battery-electric and fuel cell trucks. This S-LCA research will include all materials and life cycle phases for hypothetical battery-electric and hydrogen electric fuel cell trucks, focusing on the materials required for large batteries and fuel cells. S-LCA will pinpoint “hot spots” of harm across the supply chain. The combined LCA (environmental plus social) will provide a more comprehensive assessment of these alternative fuel trucks and a more informed basis for designing zero emission vehicle policies.
- Record URL:
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $100000
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Contract Numbers:
DOT 69A3552344814
DOT 69A3552348319
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590National Center for Sustainable Transportation
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA United States -
Managing Organizations:
National Center for Sustainable Transportation
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA United StatesUniversity of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave
Davis, California United States 95616University of Southern California, Los Angeles
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA United States 90089 -
Project Managers:
Iacobucci, Lauren
Cliff, Sydney
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Performing Organizations:
National Center for Sustainable Transportation
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA United StatesUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA United States 90089 -
Principal Investigators:
Zhang, Jiachen
Guiliano, Genevieve
- Start Date: 20240816
- Expected Completion Date: 20250815
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Electric trucks; Environmental impacts; Fuel cell vehicles; Greenhouse gases; Heavy duty trucks; Life cycle analysis; Social impacts; Zero emission vehicles
- Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01926722
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
- Contract Numbers: DOT 69A3552344814, DOT 69A3552348319
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Aug 8 2024 7:32PM