Biomass feedstock transport using fuel cell and battery electric trucks improves lifecycle metrics of biofuel sustainability and economy

The use of new vehicle technologies such as fuel cell hybrid electric and fully powertrains for biomass feedstock supply is an unexplored solution to reducing biofuel production cost, greenhouse gas emissions, health impacts. These have found success in light-duty applications are development heavy-duty trucks. This study presents the first detailed stochastic techno-economic analysis life-cycle assessment systems with diesel, electric, trucks determines their impacts on considering butanol a representative biofuel. finds that consume less energy relative diesel-powered truck regardless evaluated circumstances, including payloads (loaded empty), pavement types (gravel paved), road conditions (normal damaged), networks (local highways). powered by H2-fuel renewable sources electricity, respectively, results large reduction cost carbon footprint, specifically long-distance hauling, minimize other economic environmental While advantage dependent price conditions, reduces GHG emissions biobutanol per 100 km-trucking-distance 0.98–10.9 gCO2e/MJ. Results show converting transport decreases 0.4–7.3 cents/L 0.78 9.1 gCO2e/MJ, respectively. establishes foundation future investigations will guide economically, socially, environmentally sustainable system cellulosic biorefineries or goods transportation systems.