Life cycle assessment of an on-road dynamic charging infrastructure

Abstract

On road dynamic charging represents a possible solution for the electrification of the transport sector and eventually, for its decarbonisation. However, only a few studies have evaluated the environmental impact of this technology. A detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) of charging infrastructure is missing. This study is a life cycle assessment of the construction and maintenance of an electrified road (e-road) equipped with dynamic wireless power transfer technology (DWPT). The data from an e-road tested in a test site in Susa (Italy) have been adapted for motorway applications. The results show the relevance of wireless power transfer components compared to traditional components and materials. The wireless power transfer (WPT) component production in fact accounts for more than 70% of the impacts in the climate change category, even though it represents less than 1% weight. Maintenance is the phase with the highest impact due to the structural features of the e-road. However, there is considerable uncertainty about this value which still requires further refinement when more data from e-road monitoring are available.