Since the 1960s, most major developed countries have introduced legislation to reduce vehicle emissions in response to growing human health and environmental concerns. However, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remain a major unresolved issue because of their contribution to climate change. In response to this very real threat, policy-makers across the world are implementing regulations in an attempt to curb the GHG emissions released by vehicles into our environment. But is the scope too narrowly focused?
Almost all current legislation focuses exclusively on ‘tailpipe’ or use-phase emissions, or the emissions created while a car is driven on the road – including those from producing its fuel.
For a typical gasoline-powered vehicle, roughly 85% of GHG emissions come from the fuel cycle, with the remaining 15% caused by vehicle production and disposal.
Why all the focus on the tailpipe? For a typical gasoline-powered vehicle, roughly 85% of GHG emissions come from the fuel cycle, with the remaining 15% caused by vehicle production and disposal. Increasing fuel economy reduces tailpipe emissions and consequently we are seeing many weight reduction efforts (which increases fuel economy) as well as the entrance of low carbon fuels and electrified vehicles. Correspondingly, the automotive industry is under significant pressure to reduce tailpipe emissions in order to meet GHG emission standards in Europe, the US and Canada, and fuel economy standards in Japan, China, and South Korea.
However, current regulatory approaches are problematic because they do not deal with the long-term issues.
Low-carbon fuels and innovations in drive-train technology are changing this 15/85 ratio between emissions created during vehicle production and use. While a typical gasoline-powered vehicle currently emits only around 15% of its GHG during its production, the use of cellulosic ethanol or a shift towards battery or hybrid electric vehicles dramatically increases the share of vehicle production emissions, in some cases a complete reversal of the current figures.
There is one clear answer to make sure that vehicle emissions are addressed for the long haul, and that is life-cycle assessment (LCA)-based regulation
Tailpipe-only regulation will become increasingly inadequate as the automotive industry moves forward, limiting design choice and increasing production costs for OEMs, whilst failing fully to account for automotive GHG emissions. And so, the current problem will only get shifted to another vehicle life phase.
There is one clear answer to make sure that vehicle emissions are addressed for the long haul, and that is life-cycle assessment (LCA)-based regulation, which takes into account all of the emissions created during the life of a product, from raw material production to product end-of-life. Only in this way will we truly decrease GHG emissions and other environmental impacts across the entire vehicle life cycle without the risk of unintended consequences. LCA-based regulations can also keep costs down for OEMs by allowing them greatest flexibility in designing lowest-cost, lowest-emission vehicles. And as is always the case in the automotive industry, they will push their initiatives down the supply chain so that every nut and bolt is accounted for in the vehicle emissions portfolio – spreading enforcement of the regulations downstream. It just makes sense.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Automotive World Ltd.
Cees ten Broek is the Director of WorldAutoSteel, the automotive group of the World Steel Association.
WorldAutoSteel is comprised of 17 major global steel producers from around the world. WorldAutoSteel’s mission is to advance and communicate steel’s unique ability to meet the automotive industry’s needs and challenges in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way. WorldAutoSteel is committed to a low carbon future, the principles of which are embedded in continuous research, manufacturing processes, and ultimately, in the advancement of automotive steel products, for the benefit of society and future generations. To learn more about WorldAutoSteel and its projects, and efforts in researching and developing life cycle thinking in the world today, visit www.worldautosteel.org.
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