Life cycle assessment of electric vehicles – Key issues of Task 19 of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (HEV)

Electric vehicles have the potential to substitute conventional vehicles and to contribute to the sustainable development of the transportation sector worldwide. There is an international consensus that the sustainability assessment of electric vehicles should be performed on a life cycle basis, including production, operation and end of life. Based on life cycle assessment activities in the 18 member countries, the International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement on Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (IA-HEV) formed a Task on the LCA of electric vehicles. In Task 19, “Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Vehicles - From raw material resources to waste management of vehicles with an electric drivetrain,” the key LCA issues that apply to EVs were identified and applied in various case studies. The following seven key categories were identified, evaluated and applied in “best practice” applications: 1) General issues, 2) Life cycle modelling approach, 3) Vehicle cycle (production – use – end of life), 4) Electricity production, 5) Inventory analysis, 6) Impact assessment 7) Reference system