Energy-Material Cycles: A materials-based perspective of vehicle energy systems

John Mulrow, Joe F. Bozeman, Shantanu Pai, Emily Grubert, Sybil Derrible (2023). “Energy-Material Cycles: A materials-based perspective of vehicle energy systems.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 196, 107039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107039

Abstract: In this article, we propose an Energy-Material Cycles (EM-cycles) model to facilitate communication and comparison of tradeoffs that exist across energy systems. We ask: How would a materials-based perspective on vehicle energy systems change how the life cycle of combustion, non-renewable electric, and renewable-electric vehicles are characterized? We account for equivalent material transformation steps in a way that can be applied to both combustion-based and electrified energy systems. This is important due to the increasing coexistence of fossil and non-fossil systems, and the dominance of fuelsbased perspectives. We apply the EM-cycles model to compare recent vehicle models and draw conclusions for environmental assessment of decarbonization in general. Results show that electrification may present a material efficiency advantage rather than an energy efficiency advantage over combustion – a result that differs from typical energy system classifications. Results motivate a discussion of energy system perspectives and the advantages of a materials-based perspective.