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Lightweighting electric vehicles: Scoping review...
Journal article

Lightweighting electric vehicles: Scoping review of life cycle assessments

Abstract

In this article, we discuss our comprehensive scoping review of the existing literature on “lightweighting” of electric vehicles from a life cycle assessment perspective. Lightweighting – a concept also applied to internal combustion vehicles – aims to improve the energy efficiency of the vehicle by reducing vehicle mass. Lightweighting is especially important for electric vehicles, which, due to their large battery packs, tend to be heavier than their internal combustion counterparts. We conducted two systematic literature searches, across several research databases (Scopus, Web of Science, SAE Mobilus, and Google Scholar), yielding a total of 40 documents. Our analysis of this literature indicates that, from a life cycle assessment perspective, electric vehicle lightweighting has been considered primarily with respect to comparatively smaller vehicles (e.g., passenger cars as opposed to light trucks and heavier commercial vehicles), and for vehicle components shared with internal combustion vehicles (e.g., closures, body-in-white, and suspension components). Ultimately, we do not find a single life cycle assessment study of electric vehicle lightweighting that evaluates a comprehensive set of environmental impact categories, for a whole vehicle, over the whole vehicle life cycle (i.e., from production through end-of-life). We recommend that further research on lightweighting consider the characteristics of electric vehicles while better evaluating environmental impacts and resource use (e.g., regarding critical raw materials supply), considering trade-offs and co-benefits. For example, we highlight opportunities like reducing vehicle and battery size, although these valuable strategies need to be accompanied by changes in consumer and societal behaviour.

Authors

Cimprich A; Sadayappan K; Young SB

Journal

Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 433, ,

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

December 25, 2023

DOI

10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139692

ISSN

0959-6526

Labels

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

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