Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Drivetrains for Sustainable Transport

The present study was conducted under the framework of a broader project, which aims at developing novel solutions in electric machine technology for automotive applications. The project innovations will be implemented in a new series of in-wheel and on-board electric motors and drivetrains. In the present study, the life cycle assessment methodology is employed to assess the environmental impacts of two electric drivetrains representative of the state-of-the-art in Europe. The former is equipped with two radial flux in-wheel motors, whereas the latter is equipped with an on-board radial flux motor. From a life cycle perspective, greenhouse gas emissions resulted in being strongly dependent on the drivetrain architecture, motor technology, vehicle type, and driving mission considered. Moreover, the electricity mix assumed, especially for the use phase, resulted in having a crucial role.