Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectives
The transport sector is a major source of greenhouse emissions, requiring urgent action for transition to cleaner alternatives. In this context, Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) are essential for decarbonizing the transport sector and reducing air pollution. To estimate the potential benefits and burde...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198225002428 |
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| author | Gaia Gentilucci Antonella Accardo Ezio Spessa |
| author_facet | Gaia Gentilucci Antonella Accardo Ezio Spessa |
| author_sort | Gaia Gentilucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The transport sector is a major source of greenhouse emissions, requiring urgent action for transition to cleaner alternatives. In this context, Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) are essential for decarbonizing the transport sector and reducing air pollution. To estimate the potential benefits and burdens of these novel powertrains, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology can be used and offer a comprehensive approach. However, when comparing ZEVs to diesel Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs), it is crucial to rely on robust results to ensure comparability. The present study presents a systematic literature review of LCA applications to Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs), employing a rigorous methodology to provide an unbiased and comprehensive overview. The study aims to: (1) investigate the state-of-the-art methodological approaches in LCA implementation to HDVs (i.e., qualitative assessment) and (2) quantify the carbon footprints of current ICE-HDVs and ZEVs (i.e., quantitative assessment). After a screening step, a sample of 24 publications, comprising both scientific articles and industrial reports, has been extracted from several databases. Quantitatively, the analysis highlights a significant variability of the carbon footprint results, ranging between 431–1780 tons CO2eq for diesel ICEVs, 175–1626 tons CO2eq for battery electric vehicles, 366–2944 tons CO2eq for fuel cell electric vehicles. Instead, from the qualitative standpoint, the review reveals that, while quite consensus exists on the functional unit, there are still major differing methodological choices that cause significant variability of carbon footprint among studies. Also, the analysis highlights the strong need for improved primary data coverage and greater harmonization of LCA methods and assumptions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0a9b1b786a1d4f728ad21ef28d7a6db5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1982 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives |
| spelling | doaj-art-0a9b1b786a1d4f728ad21ef28d7a6db52025-08-22T04:58:06ZengElsevierTransportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives2590-19822025-07-013210156310.1016/j.trip.2025.101563Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectivesGaia Gentilucci0Antonella Accardo1Ezio Spessa2Department of Energy, Interdepartmental Center for Automotive Research and Sustainable Mobility—CARS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, ItalyCorresponding author.; Department of Energy, Interdepartmental Center for Automotive Research and Sustainable Mobility—CARS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, ItalyDepartment of Energy, Interdepartmental Center for Automotive Research and Sustainable Mobility—CARS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, ItalyThe transport sector is a major source of greenhouse emissions, requiring urgent action for transition to cleaner alternatives. In this context, Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) are essential for decarbonizing the transport sector and reducing air pollution. To estimate the potential benefits and burdens of these novel powertrains, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology can be used and offer a comprehensive approach. However, when comparing ZEVs to diesel Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs), it is crucial to rely on robust results to ensure comparability. The present study presents a systematic literature review of LCA applications to Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs), employing a rigorous methodology to provide an unbiased and comprehensive overview. The study aims to: (1) investigate the state-of-the-art methodological approaches in LCA implementation to HDVs (i.e., qualitative assessment) and (2) quantify the carbon footprints of current ICE-HDVs and ZEVs (i.e., quantitative assessment). After a screening step, a sample of 24 publications, comprising both scientific articles and industrial reports, has been extracted from several databases. Quantitatively, the analysis highlights a significant variability of the carbon footprint results, ranging between 431–1780 tons CO2eq for diesel ICEVs, 175–1626 tons CO2eq for battery electric vehicles, 366–2944 tons CO2eq for fuel cell electric vehicles. Instead, from the qualitative standpoint, the review reveals that, while quite consensus exists on the functional unit, there are still major differing methodological choices that cause significant variability of carbon footprint among studies. Also, the analysis highlights the strong need for improved primary data coverage and greater harmonization of LCA methods and assumptions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198225002428Diesel oil trucksZero-emission trucksGreenhouse gas emissionsHeavy duty vehiclesLife Cycle Assessment (LCA)Sustainable transport |
| spellingShingle | Gaia Gentilucci Antonella Accardo Ezio Spessa Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectives Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives Diesel oil trucks Zero-emission trucks Greenhouse gas emissions Heavy duty vehicles Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Sustainable transport |
| title | Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectives |
| title_full | Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectives |
| title_short | Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero-emission trucks: Systematic review of status and perspectives |
| title_sort | life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of diesel oil and zero emission trucks systematic review of status and perspectives |
| topic | Diesel oil trucks Zero-emission trucks Greenhouse gas emissions Heavy duty vehicles Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Sustainable transport |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198225002428 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gaiagentilucci lifecyclegreenhousegasemissionsofdieseloilandzeroemissiontruckssystematicreviewofstatusandperspectives AT antonellaaccardo lifecyclegreenhousegasemissionsofdieseloilandzeroemissiontruckssystematicreviewofstatusandperspectives AT eziospessa lifecyclegreenhousegasemissionsofdieseloilandzeroemissiontruckssystematicreviewofstatusandperspectives |