Energy and emission impacts of liquid fueled engines compared to electric motors for small size motorcycles based on the Brazilian scenario

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 168; pp. 70 - 79
• Main Authors: de Assis Brasil Weber, Natália, da Rocha, Bárbara Pacheco, Smith Schneider, Paulo, Daemme, Luiz Carlos, de Arruda Penteado Neto, Renato
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Batteries; Brazilian energy matrix; Chains; Electric motorcycles; Electric motors; Emissions; Energy; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy efficiency; Energy management; Engines; Environmental impact; Ethanol fueled engines; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Internal combustion engines; Motorcycles; PEF; Primary energy factor; Well-to-wheel approach; Electric motorcycles; PEF; Ethanol fueled engines; Well-to-wheel approach; Primary energy factor; Brazilian energy matrix
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.11.051

Real data from dynamometric essays of electric and internal combustion engines motorcycles pointed out a 3 times superior energy performance of electric driven vehicles (47.06% efficiency) compared to the average value for liquid fueled engines (15.32%). That conclusion motivated a more comprehensive assessment, based on a bottom-up methodology together with the Primary Energy Factor PEF, in order to enlarge the energy chain by considering the Brazilian energetic matrix. Environmental impact is considered through the evaluation of greenhouse gases. PEF is calculated for five motorcycles based on 2010 to 2016 production data, followed by a projection for the years 2021, 2025 and 2026. PEF average values for electric and liquid fueled motorcycles are 3.5 and 7.1 respectively. The experimental tank-to-wheel efficiency ratio of 3 to 1 from dynamometric essays turns to be a well-to-wheel 2 to 1 ratio whenever the enlarged energy chain is considered. PEF method applied to dynamometric results shows that electric driven motorcycles are still more energy efficient than liquid fueled similar vehicles for the Brazilian matrix. Emissions from electric conversion are still less harmful, nevertheless battery impact must be better studied. •Dynamometer standard tests provided the basis to review fueling performance.•Overall energy expenditure broadened with Primary Energy Factor.•Electric and liquid fueled motorcycles for Brazilian energy matrix were compared.•Analysis of the primary sources impacts on the motorcycles final efficiency.•E2W was found to be better in both efficiency and environmental criteria.