Life cycle assessment of cars - new web tool helps consumers and researchers

Christian Bauer ( left ) and Romain Sacchi are part of the PSI team that developed the Carculator - a web tool that can be used to compare the environmental impacts of different passenger cars in detail. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic) - Decision support for car buyers: Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have developed a web tool called the Carculator that can be used to compare the environmental performance of passenger cars in detail. The program determines the environmental balance of vehicles with different size classes and powertrains, and presents the results in comparative graphics. The entire life cycle of the passenger cars is taken into account, including the manufacture of the vehicles and the environmentally relevant emissions from driving. Anyone who wants to buy a new car surely gives some thought to its environmental balance sheet. However, our gut feeling can be deceptive. The general public was recently surprised by the finding that a battery electric car is already the most environmentally friendly option in Switzerland and many other countries, even when the manufacture of the battery is figured in.