Well-to-Wheel Analysis of Electric and Hydrogen Light Rail
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2015
Subject Area
place - north america, mode - tram/light rail, technology - alternative fuels, policy - environment
Keywords
renewable energy technologies, rail transit, well-to-wheel analysis, electric and hydrogen light rail
Abstract
The application of renewable energy technologies to rail transit should be evaluated on a comprehensive energy pathway efficiency basis to ensure that the renewable energy technology is truly beneficial. One such method is the well-to-wheel analysis method, which combines the energy efficiencies of each component of the energy pathway into a single energy efficiency value. The focus of this paper is on well-to-wheel analysis of electric and hydrogen light rail. The inefficiencies of the hydrogen train’s power plant and hydrogen production process are apparent in the hydrogen train’s well-to-wheel efficiency value of 16.6–19.6%. The electric train, due to improved pathway efficiencies, uses substantially less feedstock energy with a well-to-wheel efficiency value of 25.3%. While this result is specific to Charlotte, North Carolina, the electric train efficiency is influenced by the main source of electricity production—it is 24.6% in Cleveland, Ohio (coal heavy) and 50.3% in Portland, Oregon (hydroelectric heavy).
Rights
Permission to publish the abstract has been given by National Center for Transit Research, University of South Florida, copyright remains with them.
Recommended Citation
Washing, E.M., & Pulugurtha, S.S. (2015). Well-to-Wheel Analysis of Electric and Hydrogen Light Rail. Journal of Public Transportation, 18 (2), pp. 74-88.
