Introduction
The vehicle stock has been increasing in China from 3.21 million in 1985 to 93.56 million in
2011[1]. Correspondingly, the vehicle gasoline consumption reached 70 million in 2010 from the level
of 48 million in 2005, at the same time vehicle diesel consumption reached75 million in 2010 from 50
million in 2005.
In the coming period, the vehicle stock will keep in rising and it is a huge challenge to meet
theexpeditious increase of consumption demand for oil and to reduce the greenhouse emissions. In
China, new energy vehicles including hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel vehicle are
developing rapidly as well as the alternative vehicle fuels including the coal-based fuel, gas-based fuel
and biofuel pathways.
By taking not only the vehicle phase (Pump-to-Wheels, WTP) but also the fuel phase
(Well-to-Pump, WTP) into consideration, researchers can carry out the Well-to-Wheels(WTW) Life
Cycle Analysis (LCA) when conducting the assessment on energy consumption and GHG emissions of
new energy vehicles and alternative fuel pathways. Relevant research work has been carried out to
compare the energy saving and emission reduction effect of various pathways in China and abroad.
This paper aims to review the development and application for automotive energy Life-cycle Analysis
(LCA) models in China.