Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles for Sustainable Freight Transport

Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution within the freight transport sector, largely due to their dependence on petroleum-based fuels. In response to increasing environmental concerns and regulatory pressure to decarbonise transport systems, electric heavy goods vehicles(EHGVs) have emerged as a potential low-carbon alternative. This study evaluates the sustainability of EHGVs in comparison with conventional diesel-powered HGVs using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach.
The assessment considers environmental, economic, and operational factors across the full vehicle life cycle, including vehicle and battery production, energy generation, vehicle operation, and end-of-life processes. Key indicators analysed include carbon dioxide emissions, energy efficiency, and impacts on local air quality. Economic aspects such as capital costs, operating and maintenance expenses, and total cost of ownership are also examined. Operational constraints, including driving range, battery mass, charging infrastructure availability, and payload capacity, are critically assessed to evaluate practical applicability. The results indicate that EHGVs can achieve substantial reductions in operational greenhouse gas emissions and improvements in local air quality, particularly when electricity is generated from low-carbon sources. However, overall sustainability performance is strongly influenced by the electricity generation mix and the environmental impacts associated with battery manufacturing. While EHGVs are well suited to short- and medium-distance freight operations, limitations related to range and charging infrastructure currently restrict their suitability for long-haul transport. The study concludes that EHGVs have significant potential to support more sustainable freight transport, although widespread adoption depends on continued technological development and infrastructure expansion.