Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Alternative Fuels for Transport Sector Decarbonization

Decarbonizing the transport sector is crucial, yet selecting the most suitable alternative fuels remains challenging. This study applies life cycle assessment to evaluate six alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, compressed natural gas, methanol, ethanol, Fischer-Tropsch gasoline, and diesel, against conventional gasoline, diesel, and grid electricity, focusing on global warming potential and acidification potential. Emissions were analysed using the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies model under two scenarios: current technologies (2025) and projected advancements (2050). The results indicate that, compared to gasoline, compressed natural gas reduces global warming potential and acidification potential by 27% and 23% in the short term, while gaseous hydrogen achieves reductions of 63% and 46% in the long term, respectively. These findings reinforce the theoretical foundation for transport sector decarbonization and contribute to its sustainable development. Future research will broaden the assessment framework by incorporating full vehicle life cycle analysis, evaluating additional alternative fuels, and integrating a wider set of indicators.