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Cost–benefit analysis of synergistic CO2 and NOx energy-efficient technologies for the road transport sector in China

  • Liying Ping
    ,
  • Yuan Wang
    ,
  • Lien-Chieh Lee
    ,
  • Binbin Peng
    ,
  • Bushra Ahmed
    ,
  • Hongyu Zhang
  • Tianjin University
    ,
  • Hubei Polytechnic University
    ,
  • Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning
    ,
  • Hainan University
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Abstract

The transportation sector is a major source of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, and it has a crucial effect on the synergistic reduction of NOx and carbon. In order to find the energy-efficient vehicle technologies with the highest net reduction potential and lowest net reduction cost over the life cycle, this study traced the CO2 and NOx emission streams of 33 energy-efficient technologies, hidden in the supply chain during the production phase, through structural path analysis, and measured the emission reductions during the use phase using the emission factor method. Moreover, we applied structural decomposition analysis to quantify the three main drivers, including emission intensity, industrial structure, and final demand, of changes in CO2 and NOx emissions from 11 transport subsectors during 2012–2018. Results indicate that CO2 emissions of the transport sector more than doubled from 2012 to 2018; however, the influence of NOx was less significant. The final demand of the road subsector was the most significant driver contributing to CO2 emission changes, with an increase of 109.27 Mt. The emission intensity of road transportation caused the greatest mitigation effect on NOx emission changes, with a decrease of 1902 Kt. The findings of the scenario analysis demonstrate that the most efficient action of the pure electric technology for passenger cars reduces 20.92 Mt NOx emissions, and the parallel hybrid technology for heavy trucks offers the greatest cost effectiveness with a net abatement of 2577 Mt CO2 over its life cycle. Consequently, the aggressive development of new energy technology has become a prerequisite strategy to synergistically reduce CO2 and NOx emissions.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Article number

1540

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Atmosphere (Volume 13, Issue 10)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 19/09/2022
  • Published - 20/09/2022

Publication status

Published - 20/09/2022

ISSN

1598-3560

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625555
  • Scopus: 85140430802

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