Research Publications

Greenhouse gas (GHG) burdens of steel and aluminum production and life cycle benefits of vehicle lightweighting in China were evaluated. Production of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) and wrought aluminum (Al) have average cradle-to-gate GHG emissions of 3.9 and 17.5 kg CO2eq/kg. Lightweighting benefits for eleven passenger car models over five driving cycles (including real-world and regulatory cycles) were determined. Lightweighting using AHSS to replace conventional steel has cradle-to-grave GHG savings in all cases, mainly attributed to savings in material use. Wrought Al has a much higher GHG production burden than AHSS and requires greater fuel savings in the use phase to achieve net cradle-to-grave GHG savings. Maximum GHG savings occur with Al versus AHSS in cases where the powertrain is resized, travel is congested, or lifetime travel distance is long. A typical Beijing peak-hour driving cycle with low speed and frequent stop-and-go has higher fuel reduction values (FRVs) and GHG savings than other cycles. Congested travel conditions make lightweighting a particularly effective emissions reduction strategy in China.