Life-Cycle Assessment of a Powertrain Structural Component: Diecast Aluminum vs. Hypothetical Thixomolded® Magnesium

Shen, Daozhi; Phipps, A. W.; Keoleian, Gregory A.; Messick, Rebecca

doi:10.4271/1999-01-0016

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Recycling rate/content assumed for steel, wrought aluminum (Al), and cast aluminum (Al) in studies using either recycled content (RC) or end-of-life (EOL) approach. References: Steel-RC-; − Steel-EOL-; − ,,− Wrought Al-RC-; − ,− Wrought Al-EOL-; ,,,,− ,− , Cast Al-RC-; ,,,,, Cast Al-EOL-. ,,,,, .…”

Section: Review Of Lca Assumptions Parameters and Methodologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No impacts are allocated to the component in this approach, because scrap is considered as coproduct (γ = 1 in eq ). In the other approach, the materials production impacts embedded in the process scrap are allocated to the components ,,,,,− equivalent to the recycled content approach. In this allocation approach, burdens are offset only for the scraps recycled and returned to the original product system.…”

Section: Review Of Lca Assumptions Parameters and Methodologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fuel-mass coefficients in the reviewed studies lie in the range 0.315−0.71. The upper bound (0.71) was used in the study by Moon et al (2006) and was estimated using the Powertrain System Analysis Toolkit (PSAT), whereas the lower bound (0.315) was used in an LCA of a powertrain component by Shen et al (1999). 15,32 3.5.…”

Section: Environmental Science and Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Life-Cycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Benefits of Lightweighting in Automobiles: Review and Harmonization

Kim

Wallington

2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

198

141

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Replacing conventional materials (steel and iron) with lighter alternatives (e.g., aluminum, magnesium, and composites) decreases energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during vehicle use but may increase energy consumption and GHG emissions during vehicle production. There have been many life cycle assessment (LCA) studies on the benefits of vehicle lightweighting, but the wide variety of assumptions used makes it difficult to compare results from the studies. To clarify the benefits of vehicle lightweighting we have reviewed the available literature (43 studies). The GHG emissions and primary energy results from 33 studies that passed a screening process were harmonized using a common set of assumptions (lifetime distance traveled, fuel-mass coefficient, secondary weight reduction factor, fuel consumption allocation, recycling rate, and energy intensity of materials). After harmonization, all studies indicate that using aluminum, glass-fiber reinforced plastic, and high strength steel to replace conventional steel decreases the vehicle life cycle energy use and GHG emissions. Given the flexibility in options implied by the variety of materials available and consensus that these materials have substantial energy and emissions benefits, it seems likely that lightweighting will be used increasingly to improve fuel economy and reduce life cycle GHG emissions from vehicles.

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Section: Review Of Lca Assumptions Parameters and Methodologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Review Of Lca Assumptions Parameters and Methodologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Science and Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Life-Cycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Benefits of Lightweighting in Automobiles: Review and Harmonization

Kim

Wallington

2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

198

141

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“…Magnesium Alloys for Sustainable Weight-Saving Approach: A Brief Market Overview, New… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102777 But there is always a "but"; light-weighting is not a stand-alone measure whether its motivation is pollution curbs [21]. The extractive metallurgy (mining and refining) of nonferrous structural metals that are highly reactive toward oxygen like aluminum, titanium, and magnesium is complicated due to their low grade.…”

Section: Magnesium For Weight-saving and Lowering Energy For Transpor...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnesium Alloys for Sustainable Weight-Saving Approach: A Brief Market Overview, New Trends, and Perspectives

D’Errico¹,

Tauber²,

Just³

2022

Current Trends in Magnesium (Mg) Research

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In the transportation sector, weight-saving strategies emphasize greenhouse gas reductions by improving fuel efficiency. Furthermore, it is a fact that consumers appreciate less-consuming vehicles. Lighter battery electric vehicles (BEV) mean higher travel distance covered with the same battery charge. Still, the fuel range of BEV is today not a secondary issue for choosing an e-vehicle as a unique family vehicle. Weight-saving strategies are also a priority for hydrogen gas-fuelled vehicles. Until hydrogen fuel for the transport sector is not produced at affordable costs in fully renewable pathways, increased fuel efficiency is critical for the product appeal. Magnesium is an environmentally compatible and biodegradable material with a similar density to structural plastics. On the contrary, plastics are responsible for nonbiodegradable microplastics in deep-marine environments when not recycled or correctly treated at their end of life. Due to the costly usage of lightweight materials, priority is given to activities to reduce costs by developing new materials and increasing the affordability of manufacturing costs. In this chapter, magnesium is presented from much perspective point of view: we will base it on comprehension of the past, considering the present, but with some ambition to propel hearts over today’s obstacles.

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“…[23] The difference between the two emissions impact totals must be fully offset over a time shorter than the vehicle's expected lifespan to make any substitutions environmentally feasible. [1,4,6,18,21,[23][24][25][26][27][28] In this article, the cost and environmental viability substitutions of ferrous components by Mg and Al alloy components are discussed by using M.F. Ashby and coworkers' method of analysis, which involves material indices, penalty functions, and exchange constants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economical and Environmental Factors in Light Alloys Automotive Applications

Cáceres

2007

Metall Mater Trans A

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The effects of mass reduction through substitution of ferrous components by equivalent Al or Mg alloy components on the vehicle's cost and CO 2 emissions are discussed using M.F. Ashby's penalty functions and exchange constants method. The viability of substitutions of Al alloys by Mg alloys is also considered. Substitutions of cast components at equal volume and panels and beams at constant stiffness are considered. Substitutions of cast ferrous components are economically the only viable ones in terms of the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) liability, although the cost penalty can be fully offset by the gasoline savings over the life of the car for most other forms of light alloy substitutions. When primary alloys are used, the gasoline savings over the lifetime of a lighter car offset the CO 2 footprint of Al alloys in all cases. Because of their larger CO 2 footprint, the environmental feasibility is somewhat restricted for electrolytic Mg, and more so for Mg produced by the Pidgeon process. Due to their high recyclability, Al casting alloys have a significant environmental advantage over all other light alloy applications. Viable substitutions of existing Al components by Mg components are largely restricted to castings of electrolytic Mg.

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Life-Cycle Assessment of a Powertrain Structural Component: Diecast Aluminum vs. Hypothetical Thixomolded® Magnesium

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

Life-Cycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Benefits of Lightweighting in Automobiles: Review and Harmonization

Life-Cycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Benefits of Lightweighting in Automobiles: Review and Harmonization

Magnesium Alloys for Sustainable Weight-Saving Approach: A Brief Market Overview, New Trends, and Perspectives

Economical and Environmental Factors in Light Alloys Automotive Applications

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