A comparative study of well-to-wheel assessment for different fuel types in internal combustion engines and electric vehicles in 2-wheelers
Student name: Ms Sanchali Kanjilal
Guide: Dr Shruti Sharma Rana
Year of completion: 2024
Host Organisation: TVS Motor Company Ltd.
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr N. Arun
Abstract: The future of mobility in India is pivotal, and technological advancements have broadened the scope for exploring alternative fuel categories to support India’s Net Zero commitment. The automotive industry is aligning its business strategies with the nation’s Net Zero targets, emphasizing on the decarbonization strategies of both conventional and electric mobility to build resilience against supply chain disruptions and climate change impacts.
Debates are ongoing regarding biofuels, blended fuels, and other 'fuels of the future,' while the rising popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has sparked discussions about their clean mode aspect. This paper provides a comparative analysis of various fuel types, incorporating different energy mixes, to determine their carbon emissions using a well-to-wheel assessment. The fuel types examined include E10, E20, E85, CNG, and EVs charged using grid power, solar energy, and wind energy. The primary reason for conducting the study is that vehicle emissions during the use phase account for nearly 90% of the automotive industry's total emissions. The findings reveal that EVs charged with wind energy have the lowest carbon emissions at 0.085 g/km of CO2, whereas ICE vehicles using E10 emits the highest, 47.58 g/km of CO2. The study concludes that advocating for a single fuel type with the lowest emissions is impractical, as it depends on multiple factors such as resource availability, infrastructure availability, feasibility, cost and social acceptability.
Key words: Net Zero, ICE, Alternative Fuel, EV, automotive industry.