Life Cycle CO2 Emissions Assessment on the US Zero-Emission Battery Electric Truck Industry

Life Cycle CO2 Emissions Assessment on the US Zero-Emission Battery Electric Truck Industry

Electric trucks are seeing rapid adoption globally. Although they do not emit CO2 during operations, the electricity for charging trucks emits CO2 during generation. Similarly, to manufacture the Li-ion battery, from the mining stages to final assembly, the quantum of CO2 emitted is high and needs to be tracked and addressed by overcoming geopolitical challenges and resource constraints and shifting to cleaner electricity generation. The study analyzes the life cycle CO2 emissions of a battery electric truck considering all aspects, including minerals mining, battery manufacturing, and the final recycling stage after the end of its first life. The study assumes the vehicle operates in the United States. The scope covers the complete life cycle CO2 emission assessment for the battery electric truck industry in the United States across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty segments. The study calculates C02 emissions for each stage of battery manufacturing. It also considers overarching factors that could potentially impact emissions for forecasts to 2030. The research also explores global resources of battery minerals, geopolitical challenges, and the electricity generation mix among US states. It also compares these results with diesel trucks to gauge the total CO2 emissions of both vehicle segments. Findings from the total life cycle CO2 emissions assessment address questions on whether the emission trail of battery electric trucks is cleaner than that of diesel trucks.