Multi-criteria well-to-wheel sustainability assessment of energy pathways for China’s new energy vehicles

Zhang, S., Feng, J., Ren, H., & Yu, Y. (2026). Multi-criteria well-to-wheel sustainability assessment of energy pathways for China’s new energy vehicles. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 157 e105409. 10.1016/j.trd.2026.105409.

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Abstract

Achieving transport decarbonization requires evaluating the sustainability of upstream energy systems that support new energy vehicles (NEV). This study develops an integrated multi-criteria framework combining well-to-wheel life-cycle environmental assessment, levelized cost accounting, and stakeholder-informed weighting to compare 28 energy pathways for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell vehicles, and internal combustion engine vehicles using synthetic e-Fuels. Results indicate that BEV pathways supplied by low-carbon electricity generally show favorable environmental and economic performance, while ICEV pathways using grid-electrolysis e-Fuels perform the worst. Among hydrogen pathways, grid-electrolysis with gaseous-hydrogen trailers has the highest well-to-pump cost (CNY 51.93 per 105 kJ), whereas coal-gasification with pipeline delivery is lowest (CNY 17.55 per 105 kJ). Although renewable hydrogen routes currently entail higher costs, they show substantial long-term potential as costs decline. These findings offer critical insights for investment priorities and infrastructure strategies to accelerate NEV adoption.

Item Type:	Article
Research Programs:	Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) > Systemic Risk and Resilience (SYRR)
Depositing User:	Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2026 15:07
Last Modified:	03 Jun 2026 15:07
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/21632

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