Holistic evaluation of components and systems for electrified vehicles – Life cycle assessment as a decisive factor in the innovation and development process?

Abstract

Vehicle manufactures not only have to comply with current and future CO2 regulation,
they also increasingly commit themselves to a holistic optimization of the automotive
life cycle with the aim to become carbon-neutral. This is generating a high pressure for
innovation on vehicle manufacturers and the upstream supply chain as well as the
demand for a transparent reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. To offer innovations
that contribute to the decarbonization of vehicle manufacturers, suppliers need to
integrate life cycle assessment (LCA) into early innovation and development processes
to win supplier awards. The holistic technology assessment approach E2P helps to
evaluate technology options already in the concept phase and therefore enables
comprehensive technology strategies to comply with the changing decision factors in
supplier awards.
Two case studies of systems of electric vehicles show how LCA aspects can be taken
into account besides economic and performance aspects to support the innovation
process. An aluminum reference battery case showcases a lightweight potential in the
use phase compensating the higher emissions in the production phase against a steel
variant in a first case study. Enlarging the evaluation dimensions in a second case
study by cost and further performance parameters, a high-speed drive-module
outperforms the lower-speed reference with better cost, power-density and emissions
despite slightly worse cycle efficiency. The comparison of the two case studies proves
the necessity of a holistic technology assessment to get a clear decision basis.