Combustion Engine, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

ABSTRACT

The energy transition in the road transportation sector is analyzed, with a focus on light vehicles. The regulated emissions of the internal combustion engines are discussed for both fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel) and renewable fuels (ethanol, biodiesel). To compare the GHG emissions between internal combustion vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and battery electric vehicles, the role of the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is stressed. No single solution is devised. Battery electric vehicles are important to decarbonize the fleet, but are not the only and main solution. Biofuels, when adopted pure, be it in flex‐fuel vehicles, be it in hybrid vehicles, can have even smaller GHG emissions than battery vehicles. Biofuels production must be increased and its prices must be kept competitive with fossil fuels. Battery vehicles have high initial prices, but have smaller operational costs (MJ/km) than combustion engines due to their high efficiency.