Rethinking electric vehicles a smarter path to cleaner transport
Maurizio Clemente defended his PhD thesis at the Department of Mechanical Engineering on April 16th.
Electric vehicles are often seen as a clean alternative to traditional cars, but the full story is more complex. While they cut tailpipe emissions, their environmental impact鈥攅specially from battery manufacturing鈥攃an still be significant. This PhD research of Maurizio Clemente introduces a new approach that doesn鈥檛 just focus on cleaner driving, but on smarter, more sustainable vehicle design from start to finish.
This research of Maurizio presents a design framework that reimagines how electric vehicles are developed, placing modularity and standardization at the core. Rather than designing each vehicle individually, this strategy builds families of EVs using shared components. The result: lower acquisition costs and better scalability, which can accelerate EV adoption by making them more accessible to a broader public.
Balancing cost, performance, and sustainability
By combining advanced optimization methods and life-cycle assessment, the research ensures that each design decision balances cost, performance, and environmental impact. This is especially beneficial for smaller production volumes or in markets with affordable electricity鈥攃ontexts where traditional EV production may be less viable.
A life-cycle perspective
What makes this work stand out is its comprehensive view of sustainability. Instead of focusing only on vehicle emissions, it includes the carbon footprint of production鈥攑articularly battery manufacturing. This broader lens reveals that using clean energy throughout the supply chain is critical; relying on carbon-intensive regions for components can undermine even the greenest intentions.
Regional factors matter
The study also dives into regional and contextual factors. It compares various electrification strategies, showing how the sustainability of EVs depends on local electricity mixes, vehicle lifetimes, and production scales. For instance, vehicle-integrated solar panels offer clear benefits in sunny, fossil-fuel-heavy regions but might not be worth the emissions they cost in places already running on clean electricity鈥攗nless the vehicles are used long enough to offset those emissions.
Insights for policy, business, and consumers
These insights are more than academic. They offer practical guidance for policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers trying to navigate the complexities of green transportation. Whether it's setting smart regulations, making investment decisions, or simply choosing the most sustainable car, this research provides the tools to make more informed choices.
Sustainable future in transportation
By merging economic efficiency with environmental responsibility, this framework delivers actionable, scalable solutions at the intersection of innovation and climate policy. It鈥檚 a roadmap not just for better vehicles, but for a more sustainable and equitable future in transportation.
Funding: NEON project (NWO grant 17628).
Title of PhD thesis: . Promotores: Dr. Theo Hofman, and Dr. Mauro Salazar.