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Life Cycle and Costs Assessment for a New Generation Low-Impact Transport Sector

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 3709

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Benedetta Peiretti Paradisi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Energy Department, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
Interests: life cycle assessment; thermal management of electric vehicles; emissions reduction; hydrogen for mobility
Dr. Matteo Prussi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Interests: life cycle assessment; air transportation; alternative fuels; bioenergy; smart and sustainable mobility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Decarbonizing the transport sector stands as a critical effort in the global pursuit of mitigating climate change. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) are essential methodologies in this context, offering a thorough evaluation of both the environmental impacts and economic viability throughout the entire lifecycle of transport systems. These methodologies emerge as crucial tools for assessing the environmental impacts associated with various modes of transportation, ensuring that political decisions are made without inadvertently shifting environmental burdens.

Furthermore, the LCA is often complemented with social and economic impact assessments (LCCA, sLCA, etc.), as these dimensions cannot be neglected when alternative solutions are proposed. The aim of this Special Issue is to collect contributions regarding the role of LCAs and their related studies in shaping a sustainable future across all areas of the transport sector in a technology-neutral approach. This includes the evaluation of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) footprint and TCO of various powertrains, such as electric, hydrogen, biofuel, and hybrid technologies, for dedicated applications. The scope spans from road transport to international transport, including the aviation and maritime sectors.

Dr. Benedetta Peiretti Paradisi
Dr. Matteo Prussi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
  • electric, hydrogen, biofuel, and hybrid technologies
  • transport sector
 

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1820 KB  
Article
An Efficient Concept to Integrate Traffic Activity Dynamics into Fleet LCAs
by Sokratis Mamarikas, Zissis Samaras and Leonidas Ntziachristos
Energies 2025, 18(19), 5075; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195075 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 447
Abstract
This paper addresses the underrepresentation of traffic activity in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) practice despite its critical influence on the energy and environmental footprint of both electrified and conventional vehicles. To bridge this gap, the paper proposes a new framework that enhances the [...] Read more.
This paper addresses the underrepresentation of traffic activity in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) practice despite its critical influence on the energy and environmental footprint of both electrified and conventional vehicles. To bridge this gap, the paper proposes a new framework that enhances the integration of traffic dynamics into fleet LCAs while maintaining computational simplicity. The approach combines Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams (MFDs), which estimate network-level traffic performance, with an average-speed-based emissions model to evaluate on-road energy use and emissions performance of traffic. This quantification is further extended by applying life cycle inventory emission factors to account for upstream and downstream impacts, including energy production, vehicle manufacturing, and end-of-life treatment. The framework is demonstrated through a case study involving urban traffic networks in Zurich and Thessaloniki. Results illustrate the method’s capacity to evaluate multiple vehicles within realistic flow scenarios and adaptability to variable traffic conditions, offering a practical and scalable tool for improved energy and environmental assessment of road transport fleets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle and Costs Assessment for a New Generation Low-Impact Transport Sector)
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30 pages, 6709 KB  
Article
Human Toxicity Potential: A Lifecycle Evaluation in Current and Future Frameworks for Hydrogen-Based and Battery Electric Buses in the European Union
by Andrea Nicolò Damiani Ferretti, Pier Paolo Brancaleoni, Francesco Bellucci, Alessandro Brusa and Enrico Corti
Energies 2025, 18(18), 4932; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18184932 - 16 Sep 2025
Viewed by 449
Abstract
In recent years, governments have promoted the shift to low-emission transport systems, with electric and hydrogen vehicles emerging as key alternatives for greener urban mobility. Evaluating zero- or near-zero tailpipe solutions requires a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) approach, accounting for emissions from energy production, [...] Read more.
In recent years, governments have promoted the shift to low-emission transport systems, with electric and hydrogen vehicles emerging as key alternatives for greener urban mobility. Evaluating zero- or near-zero tailpipe solutions requires a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) approach, accounting for emissions from energy production, components and vehicle manufacturing. Such studies mainly address Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, while other pollutants are often overlooked. This study compares the Human Toxicity Potential (HTP) of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs), Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (H2ICEVs) and hybrid H2ICEVs for public transport in the European Union. Current and future scenarios (2024, 2030, 2050) are examined, considering evolving energy mixes and manufacturing impacts. Results underline that BEVs are characterized by the highest HTP in 2024, and that this trend is maintained even in future scenarios. As for hydrogen-based powertrains, they show lower HTPs, similar among them. This work underlines that current efforts must be intensified, especially for BEVs, to further limit harmful emissions from the mobility sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle and Costs Assessment for a New Generation Low-Impact Transport Sector)
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24 pages, 8247 KB  
Article
Life Cycle Assessment of Different Powertrain Alternatives for a Clean Urban Bus Across Diverse Weather Conditions
by Benedetta Peiretti Paradisi, Luca Pulvirenti, Matteo Prussi, Luciano Rolando and Afanasie Vinogradov
Energies 2025, 18(17), 4522; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18174522 - 26 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 751
Abstract
At present, the decarbonization of the public transport sector plays a key role in international and regional policies. Among the various energy vectors being considered for future clean bus fleets, green hydrogen and electricity are gaining significant attention thanks to their minimal carbon [...] Read more.
At present, the decarbonization of the public transport sector plays a key role in international and regional policies. Among the various energy vectors being considered for future clean bus fleets, green hydrogen and electricity are gaining significant attention thanks to their minimal carbon footprint. However, a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is essential to compare the most viable solutions for public mobility, accounting for variations in weather conditions, geographic locations, and time horizons. Therefore, the present work compares the life cycle environmental impact of different powertrain configurations for urban buses. In particular, a series hybrid architecture featuring two possible hydrogen-fueled Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) is considered: an H2-Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and a Fuel Cell (FC). Furthermore, a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) is considered for the same application. The global warming potential of these powertrains is assessed in comparison to both conventional and hybrid diesel over a typical urban mission profile and in a wide range of external ambient conditions. Given that cabin and battery conditioning significantly influence energy consumption, their impact varies considerably between powertrain options. A sensitivity analysis of the BEV battery size is conducted, considering the effect of battery preconditioning strategies as well. Furthermore, to evaluate the potential of hydrogen and electricity in achieving cleaner public mobility throughout Europe, this study examines the effect of different grid carbon intensities on overall emissions, based also on a seasonal variability and future projections. Finally, the present study demonstrates the strong dependence of the carbon footprint of various technologies on both current and future scenarios, identifying a range of boundary conditions suitable for each analysed powertrain option. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle and Costs Assessment for a New Generation Low-Impact Transport Sector)
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26 pages, 3755 KB  
Article
The Concept of an Infrastructure Location to Supply Buses with Hydrogen: A Case Study of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland
by Ludmiła Filina-Dawidowicz, Dawid Miłek and Dalia Baziukė
Energies 2025, 18(12), 3026; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18123026 - 6 Jun 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1315
Abstract
The growing energy crisis and increasing threat of climate change are driving the need to take action regarding the use of alternative fuels in transport, including public transport. Hydrogen is undoubtedly a fuel which is environmentally friendly and constitutes an alternative to fossil [...] Read more.
The growing energy crisis and increasing threat of climate change are driving the need to take action regarding the use of alternative fuels in transport, including public transport. Hydrogen is undoubtedly a fuel which is environmentally friendly and constitutes an alternative to fossil fuels. The wider deployment of hydrogen-powered vehicles involves the need to adapt infrastructure to support the operation of these vehicles. Such infrastructure includes refuelling stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles. The widespread use of hydrogen-powered vehicles is dependent on the development of a network of hydrogen refuelling stations. The aim of this article is to propose the conceptual location of infrastructure for fuelling public transport vehicles with hydrogen in selected cities of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in particular the cities of Szczecin and Koszalin. The methodology used to determine the number of refuelling stations is described, and the concept of the location for the refuelling stations has been proposed. Based on a set assumptions, it was stated that two stations may be located in the Voivodeship in 2025 and seven stations in 2040. The research results will be of interest to infrastructure developers, public transport companies, and municipalities involved in making decisions related to the purchase and operation of hydrogen-powered buses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle and Costs Assessment for a New Generation Low-Impact Transport Sector)
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