An integrated method to calculate an automobile's emissions throughout its life cycle

Although studies can be found in the literature that present emissions inventories associated with different types of automobiles, distinct technologies or various stages of their life cycles, they do not enable us to compare the environmental impact of the complete life cycle of two vehicles. This is because there is no valid emissions inventory for all types of automobiles that covers all the life cycle stages (the cradle to grave approach). This paper proposes a method to estimate the principal types of emissions throughout a vehicle's life cycle based on primary data (weight, year of manufacture, engine technology, fuel type used, etc.). The proposed method requires neither sophisticated life cycle assessment software nor knowledge of specific information on individual vehicles. The proposal has been validated by analyzing three different gasoline and diesel-fueled internal combustion engine vehicles and by considering a life span of 100,000 km. •Method of estimating the emissions of a vehicle during its entire life cycle.•Emissions considered: CO; CO2; CH4; NMVOC; NOx; PM and SOx.•The method does not require the use of sophisticated LCA computer programs.•Model validated with 3 internal combustion car models, gasoline or diesel fuel.