interpretation of results was developed [1]. The integrated engineering process is
visualized on a number of screens to show system interdependencies. Like this,
material choices or manufacturing processes can be compared and evaluated fast
and effectively from a life cycle point of view. In the future, environmental hotspots
and trade-offs are visualized via spatial representation and cluster heat maps.
Likewise, Henkel set up an LCA tool (Henkel Easy LCA) to facilitate the use of
LCA by non-LCA experts in the development process of new products [2]. The
goal was to develop a streamline LCA tool with the highest level of detail necessary
to make substantiated decisions in a first-tier assessment. For example, with the
help of the tool, used raw materials can be assessed in less than two minutes. For
higher-tier assessments, LCA specialists can be consulted for more detailed analyses. Until now, only greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are considered in the raw
materials assessment though water consumption will be included next. Henkel
Easy LCA is also used to model and assess the logistics of products. It includes
intermodal shifting, warehousing and capacity utilization.
At BMW, Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) on a component level
was developed and adopted [3]. The three sustainability dimensions are assessed in
an integrated way by combining Life Cycle Costing (LCC), Social-LCA (S-LCA)
and LCA. Criticality points of up to 100 represent the respective impacts in each
dimension caused by a specific component. The dimensions are equally weighted so
that as a result, the average of criticality points of all dimensions show the relative
performance of the assessed component in relation to all other components used.
When applying LCSA it is possible to generate a higher environmental or financial
impact by choosing a material that causes least negative social impacts. The goal,
however, is to improve the vehicle’s impacts in all of the sustainability dimensions.
At Volkswagen, different powertrains and fuels are assessed with LCA considering current circumstances and developments until 2030 to provide long-term
support for the Group’s decarbonisation strategy [4]. Different power trains are
compared via the Performance Feel Index that assures a comparison of vehicles
with similar user experiences in terms of overall driving dynamics. The whole life
cycle is assessed to avoid burden shifting between life cycle phases when altering
the fleet’s power train and fuel composition. Like this, main drivers for efficiency
improvements are analysed. The study showed that all power train systems still
have significant improvement potentials. Special effort should be put into reducing
the carbon dioxide burden of lithium-ion battery production, e.g. via energy efficiency, green energy supply and closed-loop recycling.
Similarly, at Toyota a life cycle approach is pursued to reach their 2050 target of
reducing carbon emissions by 90% compared to 2010 [5]. Toyota will therefore
focus on hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles powered with renewable energy and alternative fuels. Their LCAs further show that wrought alloy aluminium has a comparatively low environmental impact and should therefore be used for light-weight
materials. The supply of needed quantities of wrought alloy aluminium is problematic though. Cooperation between academia, OEMs and other industries is
proposed to solve the supply problem and develop more detailed data sets on the
re-use of aluminium in the automotive industry.
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S. Krinke and M. Neef
visualized on a number of screens to show system interdependencies. Like this,
material choices or manufacturing processes can be compared and evaluated fast
and effectively from a life cycle point of view. In the future, environmental hotspots
and trade-offs are visualized via spatial representation and cluster heat maps.
Likewise, Henkel set up an LCA tool (Henkel Easy LCA) to facilitate the use of
LCA by non-LCA experts in the development process of new products [2]. The
goal was to develop a streamline LCA tool with the highest level of detail necessary
to make substantiated decisions in a first-tier assessment. For example, with the
help of the tool, used raw materials can be assessed in less than two minutes. For
higher-tier assessments, LCA specialists can be consulted for more detailed analyses. Until now, only greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are considered in the raw
materials assessment though water consumption will be included next. Henkel
Easy LCA is also used to model and assess the logistics of products. It includes
intermodal shifting, warehousing and capacity utilization.
At BMW, Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) on a component level
was developed and adopted [3]. The three sustainability dimensions are assessed in
an integrated way by combining Life Cycle Costing (LCC), Social-LCA (S-LCA)
and LCA. Criticality points of up to 100 represent the respective impacts in each
dimension caused by a specific component. The dimensions are equally weighted so
that as a result, the average of criticality points of all dimensions show the relative
performance of the assessed component in relation to all other components used.
When applying LCSA it is possible to generate a higher environmental or financial
impact by choosing a material that causes least negative social impacts. The goal,
however, is to improve the vehicle’s impacts in all of the sustainability dimensions.
At Volkswagen, different powertrains and fuels are assessed with LCA considering current circumstances and developments until 2030 to provide long-term
support for the Group’s decarbonisation strategy [4]. Different power trains are
compared via the Performance Feel Index that assures a comparison of vehicles
with similar user experiences in terms of overall driving dynamics. The whole life
cycle is assessed to avoid burden shifting between life cycle phases when altering
the fleet’s power train and fuel composition. Like this, main drivers for efficiency
improvements are analysed. The study showed that all power train systems still
have significant improvement potentials. Special effort should be put into reducing
the carbon dioxide burden of lithium-ion battery production, e.g. via energy efficiency, green energy supply and closed-loop recycling.
Similarly, at Toyota a life cycle approach is pursued to reach their 2050 target of
reducing carbon emissions by 90% compared to 2010 [5]. Toyota will therefore
focus on hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles powered with renewable energy and alternative fuels. Their LCAs further show that wrought alloy aluminium has a comparatively low environmental impact and should therefore be used for light-weight
materials. The supply of needed quantities of wrought alloy aluminium is problematic though. Cooperation between academia, OEMs and other industries is
proposed to solve the supply problem and develop more detailed data sets on the
re-use of aluminium in the automotive industry.
178
S. Krinke and M. Neef