Title: Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of passenger seats and their impact on different vehicle models

Authors: Aleksandar Subic, Francesco Schiavone, Martin Leary, Jack Manning

Addresses: School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3803, Australia. ' School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3803, Australia. ' School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3803, Australia. ' School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3803, Australia

Abstract: The main purpose of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to date has been to evaluate life cycle impacts of different design solutions and materials for a car, its sub-systems and components. Considerable number of publications are available on LCA of automotive components. This research aims to extend the LCA approach by evaluating and comparing the effects of mass reduction of passenger seats for different vehicle models in order to provide strategic support for decision making in the development process and to validate the environmental benefits of design alternatives under investigation. For this purpose, the paper presents a comprehensive LCA of passenger seats with detailed consideration of alternative scenarios for the use phase for different vehicle models.

Keywords: LCA; life cycle assessment; use phase; mass reduction; passenger seats; vehicle design; automotive components.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2010.032985

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2010 Vol.53 No.1/2, pp.89 - 109

Published online: 06 May 2010 *

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