THE SECOND SAUDI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING (SCOPE-2)

Saudi Arabia’s transition from internal combustion vehicles (ICVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieving the nation’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals. However, the environmental benefits of EV adoption depend critically on the carbon intensity of the electricity used for charging. This study employs a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using OpenLCA and the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method to evaluate the global warming potential of four scenarios: ICVs, EVs powered by fossil fuels, EVs powered by a 50/50 mix of fossil fuels and nuclear power, and EVs powered exclusively by nuclear power. The analysis is based on a functional unit of 150,000 km traveled by subcompact vehicles, accounting for engine and battery deterioration over a five-year period. Results indicate that ICVs produce the highest CO₂ emissions (69,500 kg CO₂ eq), followed by EVs powered by fossil fuels (24,400 kg CO₂ eq), EVs with mixed electricity sources (15,600 kg CO₂ eq), and EVs powered solely by nuclear energy (6,920 kg CO₂ eq). Transitioning from ICVs to EVs reduces CO₂ emissions by 64.9%, while integrating 50% nuclear power into the grid achieves a 77.5% reduction, and a fully nuclear-powered EV scenario yields a 90.05% reduction. Nuclear power plants (NPPs) thus play a pivotal role, offering a 71.65% emissions reduction compared to fossil-fuel-powered EVs. The findings underscore that coupling EV adoption with a decarbonized electricity supply—particularly via nuclear energy—is essential for maximizing climate benefits in Saudi Arabia’s transport sector. This study provides quantitative evidence to support policy decisions on sustainable energy and transportation transitions in the Kingdom.