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Selection of Impact Categories and TRACI’s Status
Citation:
Bare, Jane C. AND B. Niblick. Selection of Impact Categories and TRACI’s Status. Overall Assessment in LCA of Electric Vehicles - From Inventory Analysis to Impacts of Electric Vehicles, N/A, OH, October 13 - 14, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Electric vehicles have the potential to substitute for conventional vehicles and contribute to the sustainable development of the transportation sector worldwide, for example, in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) and particulate emissions. One way to measure the environmental performance of electric vehicles is to use life cycle assessment (LCA), which includes the production, operation, and end-of-life treatment of the vehicles and the fuel cycle. The aim of this online workshop is to present and discuss the status and future perspectives of life cycle impact assessment and the impact categories relevant to the LCA of vehicles. EPA was invited to present an update on the U.S. life cycle impact assessment method, TRACI: the Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other environmental Impacts. The workshop will result in a summary statement on the status of life cycle impact assessment methodologies and future perspectives for electric and conventional vehicles. This work could be of interest to research partners and the general public.
Description:
The U.S. EPA has developed the Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other environmental Impacts (TRACI) to represent the impact assessment methodologies which are most closely aligned with the policies and guidelines of the Agency and reflective of the most scientifically advanced research, whenever possible. As new research becomes available globally, the advances must be evaluated and vetted within the Agency to see if new research should be adopted, and/or if additional development is needed. Each impact assessment methodology incorporated into TRACI will be reviewed before release. Criteria for evaluation and development of methodologies will include: consistency with existing USEPA regulatory guidance, applicability to US geographical boundaries, consistency with previous modeling assumptions (especially US EPA), minimization of assumptions and value choices, and modularity, portability, and ease of use. Researchers within the US EPA have been contributing to various impact assessment working groups within the UNEP SETAC Life Cycle Initiative to learn about advances taking place in other research centers and to ensure that the unique environment of the United States is considered during impact assessment methodology development. They have communicated directly with experts within the Agency and involved these experts in UNEP SETAC working groups when appropriate. These EPA collaborators have co-authored papers, participated in workshops, and contributed in numerous ways to ensure global advances. Regionalized characterization factors are expected to be included for several impact categories, including eutrophication and smog formation. Additional research continues to determine whether additional impacts can and should be included within TRACI.