A new comparative analysis has studied the carbon footprint of medium-duty and heavy-duty (MD-HD) engine vehicles fuelled by Autogas and electricity. The analysis, Decarbonisation of MD-HD Vehicles with Propane, found that LPG-powered MD-HD internal combustion engine vehicles provide a lower carbon footprint solution in 38 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., when compared to MD-HD electric vehicles charged using the electrical grid.
The comparative analysis also reveals that MD-HD vehicles powered by renewable LPG provide a lower carbon footprint solution in every U.S. state, except Vermont where electricity is generated by, and imported from, Canadian hydroelectric power plants.
Moreover, the analysis shows that decarbonisation can be accelerated by adopting Autogas as the fuel of choice for MD-HD vehicles. The conclusion is supported by a life-cycle analysis of equivalent CO2eq emissions between electric and Autogas vehicles across the U.S. using California Air Resources Board (CARB) carbon intensity values along with a powertrain efficiency analysis.
“It is often assumed that full electrification of all sectors will lead to their full decarbonisation, but little thought on how electricity is currently generated, stored, transmitted, and consumed has been considered,” said the author Dr. Gokul Vishwanathan, director of research & sustainability at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “While a fully renewable-based electric grid is not feasible anytime soon, LPG is an effective solution today for accelerating decarbonisation of transportation and other energy sectors.”
“The U.S. should aggressively pursue immediately available decarbonisation efforts using alternative fuels such as LPG rather than wait on grid infrastructure improvements that are decades away from realisation,” recommends the study. For more information, please check this link
Source : auto-gas.net
