Energy-ecological efficiency of the fuel cell electric vehicle powered by different biofuels

• Published in: Clean technologies and environmental policy Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 1389 - 1402
• Main Authors: de Moraes, Danielle Rodrigues, Soares, Laene Oliveira, de Almeida Guimarães, Vanessa, de Oliveira, Katia Ferreira, Hernández-Callejo, Luis, Vieira, Gisele Maria Ribeiro, Boloy, Ronney Arismel Mancebo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-07-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alternative fuel vehicles; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biogas; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Decision making; Earth and Environmental Science; Efficiency; Electric vehicles; Electromobility; Emission standards; Emissions; Energy; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental impact; Environmental policy; Ethanol; Exhaust emissions; Exhaust gases; Exhaust pipes; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Gasoline; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Original Paper; Reforming; Solid oxide fuel cells; Sustainable Development; Thermodynamics; Transportation industry; Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions; Energy-ecological efficiency; Electric vehicle; Biofuels; Solid oxide fuel cell
• ISSN: 1618-954X; 1618-9558
• DOI: 10.1007/s10098-021-02250-5

This paper examines the net environmental impact for the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, in special the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (SOFCEV), by exploring how different fuels operate alongside the cell, through the analysis of its equivalent carbon dioxide emissions and energy-ecological efficiency. Thermodynamic analysis showed high theoretical efficiency for the SOFCEV with internal steam-reforming, mainly in the ideal temperature range indicated for equipment longevity. Ethanol and biomethane had minor environmental impact when compared to gasoline and glycerine. Biofuel-fuelled SOFCEV showed a thermodynamic performance like the obtained for gasoline. Also, biofuel-fuelled SOFCEV presented CO
2
e exhaust emissions capable to attend all future tailpipe emissions standards from the European Union and the United States. Glycerine had the lowest energy-ecological efficiency, while biomethane-fuelled SOFCEV has demonstrated to be the best energy and environmental scenario compared to the other analysed fuels. This paper might contribute to the reduction of climatic impacts related to the transport sector by showing that the SOFCEV achieve high energy-ecological efficiency when fuelled with biofuels. The use of biofuel-fuelled SOFCEV is considered a viable option that might enable decision making to favour the electromobility development.
Graphic abstract