NON-RENEWABLE AND RENEWABLE EXERGY FOOTPRINTS OF DIESEL AND ELECTRIC-POWERED FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

As the mobility sector transitions toward sustainability, evaluating the exergy costs of various transportation systems has become increasingly important. For that reason, this study assesses exergy consumption in freight transportation, comparing diesel and electric-powered trains with road freight transportation, using both diesel and electricity as energy sources. The research evaluates the exergy required to produce the materials used in both diesel and electric trains, including steel, aluminum, and lithium for electric batteries. It also considers the infrastructure needed for each technology. In addition,road freight transportation, using both diesel and electricity, is analyzed to compare its material composition, energy demands, and operational efficiency throughout its lifespan. By integrating both direct fuel consumption and the exergy costs of materials, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the energy requirements for different transportation modes. The results show that diesel-electric trains are not highly dependent on infrastructure, but they exhibit high operational exergy costs due to the lower efficiency of fossil fuel combustion. Road freight, while requiring simpler infrastructure, remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, resulting in higher long-term operational exergy consumption. This analysis highlights the importance of considering both operational and material-related exergy costs when evaluating transportation systems. The findings offer valuable insights for optimizing resource use and advancing the energy transition in the mobility sector.