| DOI | Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.03.009 |
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| Author | Search for: Shahraeeni, Mehdi; Search for: Ahmed, Syed; Search for: Malek, Kourosh1; Search for: Van drimmelen, Burke; Search for: Kjeang, Erik |
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| Affiliation | - National Research Council of Canada. Energy, Mining and Environment
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| Format | Text, Article |
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| Subject | light duty commercial vehicle; LCA; CNG; natural gas; diesel |
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| Abstract | The green economy mandate seeks to reduce transportation emissions by replacing traditional fossil fuels with alternative low-carbon fuels. The present article provides a comparative “cradle-to-grave” life cycle assessment (LCA) of light duty commercial vehicles (LDCVs) powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel. The LCA scope is based on conditions for municipal vehicle fleet operation in a semi-urban Canadian city, suitable for adoption of alternative fuels such as CNG. An in-house application is developed to conduct the LCA with a combination of real-time vehicle fleet data and Natural Resources Canada's GHGenius as the inventory database. The results indicate that the net energy consumed is comparable for both fuels. Mixed results are obtained for criteria air contaminant (CAC) emissions, indicating the need for exhaust treatment for both vehicles. More importantly, a 34% reduction of GHG emissions is predicted by replacing the diesel vehicles with CNG vehicles. The analysis of fugitive methane emissions caused by newly developed hydraulic fracturing methods shows that CNG vehicles are still favorable. The lifetime fuel cost can also be reduced by about $30,000 per vehicle by switching to CNG. Therefore, fleet operators and policy developers are recommended to consider adoption of CNG-powered LDCVs. |
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| Publication date | 2015-03-18 |
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| Publisher | Elsevier |
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| In | |
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| Language | English |
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| Peer reviewed | Yes |
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| NPARC number | 23001549 |
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| Export citation | Export as RIS |
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| Report a correction | Report a correction (opens in a new tab) |
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| Record identifier | a8188379-8161-4a38-8dd8-0ac75fc61e79 |
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| Record created | 2017-03-06 |
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| Record modified | 2020-04-22 |
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