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Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Last-Mile Parcel Delivery by Automated Vehicles and Robots.
- Source :
-
Environmental science & technology [Environ Sci Technol] 2021 Jul 30. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jul 30. - Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Ahead of Print
-
Abstract
- Increased E-commerce and demand for contactless delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic have fueled interest in robotic package delivery. We evaluate life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for automated suburban ground delivery systems consisting of a vehicle (last-mile) and a robot (final-50-feet). Small and large cargo vans (125 and 350 cubic feet; V125 and V350) with an internal combustion engine (ICEV) and battery electric (BEV) powertrains were assessed for three delivery scenarios: (i) conventional , human-driven vehicle with human delivery; (ii) partially automated , human-driven vehicle with robot delivery; and (iii) fully automated , connected automated vehicle (CAV) with robot delivery. The robot's contribution to life cycle GHG emissions is small (2-6%). Compared to the conventional scenario, full automation results in similar GHG emissions for the V350-ICEV but 10% higher for the V125-BEV. Conventional delivery with a V125-BEV provides the lowest GHG emissions, 167 g CO <subscript>2</subscript> e/package, while partially automated delivery with a V350-ICEV generates the most at 486 g CO <subscript>2</subscript> e/package. Fuel economy and delivery density are key parameters, and electrification of the vehicle and carbon intensity of the electricity have a large impact. CAV power requirements and efficiency benefits largely offset each other, and automation has a moderate impact on life cycle GHG emissions.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1520-5851
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Environmental science & technology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34328327
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c08213