Dynamic evaluation of lightweight automobile life cycle based on Vensim software

Abstract

Previous assessment of lightweight effect of automotive products focused mostly on the operational stage, rather than comprehensive consideration of different stages of the automobile life cycle. Furthermore, static assessment models were used and most of the domestic evaluation studies were based on foreign data, leading to conclusions that were far different from the actual situations in China. To address the aforementioned problems, a dynamic assessment model was set up based on the Vensim software for dynamic quantitative evaluation and analysis. The model dynamically evaluated and analyzed the effect of lightweight trend of automobile products(in particular lightweight of material)on material, energy consumption, emission and cost throughout the automobile life cycle including material acquisition, material processing, parts processing and manufacturing, assembly, utilization and recycling. The conventional gasoline vehicle and pure electric vehicle developed from the same platform of a company were selected as research object. The results showed that various evaluation indexes of the pure electric vehicle had different degrees of reduction due to composite lightweight effect of aluminum and magnesium. However, evaluation indexes of the gasoline vehicle, including the life cycle PM, CO emission and environmental cost, Health Toxic Potential(HTP)and so on had respective increase. The lightweight effect of pure electric vehicle was remarkable.