COMPARATIVE ASSESMENT OF WELL-TO-WHEELS EFFICIENCY AND EMISSION OF FCVS AND EVS

Soldevilla, Jorge

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124873 Copy

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Title

COMPARATIVE ASSESMENT OF WELL-TO-WHEELS EFFICIENCY AND EMISSION OF FCVS AND EVS

Author(s)

Soldevilla, Jorge

Issue Date

2022-05-01

Keyword(s)

Well-to-Wheels (w-t-w) structure, ICEV efficiency

Abstract

In the US, the transportation sector generates the largest share of GHG emissions since it accounts for 31 % of overall emissions. These emissions come from burning fossil fuels, which are mainly petroleum-based such gasoline and diesel, for light-duty vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The Well-to-Wheels (w-t-w) structure was originally introduced to evaluate ICEV efficiency; the process is applied, with small modifications, to assess EV and FCV efficiency. The w-t-w process involves a sequence of subprocesses, each of which incurs a loss of energy and consequently impacts the overall efficiency of the process. The EV w-t-w process can be decomposed in two components: well-to-charger and charger-towheels processes. The EV well-to-charger process starts at the well and its energy conversion to generate electricity. Subsequently, the electricity is transmitted to the grid which supplies electricity to the EV charger. In the end, the EV charger supplies the EV battery which powers the electric motor that moves the wheels of the EV. In the EV w-t-w process, there are two major energy losses that have economic and environmental impacts. The first loss is associated with the energy loss during the distribution and transmission of the electricity. The second loss component includes the losses that are unique to an EV and take place from the outlet on the wall to the wheels of the EV. Similarly, the FCV w-t-w process can be decomposed in two components: well-to-tank and tankto-wheels processes. The H2 pathway from its production to the vehicle´s tank comprises several subprocesses. Once H2 is produced, it is either compressed or liquified in order to be transported to the refueling station where it undergoes to a sequence of subprocesses to reach 700 bars and -40ºC, before it is dispensed into the FCV onboard storage tank. Inside the FCV, the fuel cell converts H2 in electricity and supplies the electric motor that moves the wheels of the FCV. In analogy with the EV, the FCV w-t-w process has energy losses that have environmental and economic impacts and affect the overall FCV w-t-w efficiency. In this thesis, in order to make the results concrete in terms of efficiency, economic, and environmental impacts, we do our comparative analysis in terms of selected EV-Tesla Model 3 LR and FCV-Toyota Mirai XLE.

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

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