Life Cycle Analysis of Automated Vehicles

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 20: 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Grand A-D

Jarod Kelly

Principal Energy Systems Analyst, Argonne National Laboratory

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION

The introduction of connected automated vehicles (CAVs) is likely to transform mobility in the coming years, with ramifications for society and the environment. We examine the impact of CAVs on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. We consider several important factors affecting these burdens: production and use of the sensors and computing hardware, benefits of smoother driving, and decreased vehicle weight. Here we examine the life-cycle energy consumption and gCO2e/mile emissions for a midsize sport utility vehicle outfitted with CAV technologies with an internal combustion engine, hybrid electric, battery electric, or fuel-cell electric powertrain in 2030. We show that energy use and emissions are sensitive to assumptions about power demand for automated-vehicle sensor and computer systems, improved vehicle fuel efficiency enabled by smoother driving, and vehicle lightweighting. Results are insensitive to production and use of the sensors and computing hardware, increased lifetime vehicle mileage, and powertrain replacement (batteries or fuel cell stack). In our base-case scenario (1000 W power demand, 20% lightweighting, 15% fuel efficiency increase), CAVs have lower energy use and emissions per mile than non-automated vehicles for all powertrains.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Jarod Kelly examines the sustainability of energy and transportation systems as a Principal Energy Systems Analyst at Argonne National Laboratory. His recent studies have considered the environmental implications of battery electric vehicle adoption and the supply chain variance associated with the production of lithium-ion batteries in different regions of the world. This work found that there are significant opportunities to reduce various pollutant emissions associated with battery production through locational variation. His work has also characterized breakeven substitution ratios for material substitution in vehicle light weighting efforts. He received his BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma and his MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.

PRESENTATION FILE