Study of anthropogenic emissions in the life cycle of Body in White manufactured in new generation steels

Abstract

The objective of this article is to evaluate the life cycle of vehicles with a B-Body developed in new-generation steels (New BIW), compared to currently used steels (Current BIW), aiming to reduce vehicle mass and anthropogenic emissions. The method was based on the estimation of anthropogenic emissions through simulation in the GREET2.7 Module, where the life cycle of vehicles with a Body developed in new-generation steels (New BIW), which have greater mechanical strength, was compared to BIW in currently used steels (Current BIW), which have lower mechanical strength, aiming to reduce vehicle mass and its respective emissions. As a result, a 2.65% reduction in vehicle mass was obtained, which resulted in a reduction of 0.11 tons of greenhouse gases. Just as, in the comparison of simulated emissions, between the current BIW and the new one, there is a reduction in total GHG emissions of 2.8% during the life cycle of the materials, of 3.6% during the life cycle of the Body of vehicles (BIW, interior, exterior and windows), 2.04% over the complete life cycle of vehicles and 0.78 ℓ/100 km of consumption. The conclusions show that the mass reduction of vehicles developed in new generation steels (New BIW) provides a significant change with regard to anthropogenic emissions, mainly in the vehicle use phase, due to the reduction in the burning of fossil fuels and the study provides an important decision-maker regarding the mitigation of global warming, as it is essential to recognize that motor vehicles are significant air polluters.