Comparative analysis of alternative fuels and powertrains for goods transport vehicles: A case study of Catalonia, Spain

Abstract

By 2050, the European Union aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions to achieve carbon neutrality. Therefore, like other sectors, emissions from the goods transport sector need to be reduced as well. A proactive shift to cleaner vehicles with alternative propulsion systems to conventional systems is required. The environmental impact of various engine technologies is currently gaining traction when considering the purchase of goods transport vehicles. This study introduces various alternative fuels and powertrains in the context of Catalonia, Spain. However, the observations and discussions provided in this paper can be applied to other countries, with slight variations conforming to local markets. Apart from discussing the alternative options, a comparison including technical and financial evaluation, infrastructure evaluation, risks/opportunities evaluation, and emission evaluation is provided. The paper further enlists the risks and opportunities available for each alternative with a 15-year horizon, and lastly provides a SWOT analysis. This study not only offers a guidance to the goods transport operators regarding alternative fuels and powertrains but also provides the general readers with a broad understanding of the topic.