The shift toward sustainable mobility has brought a range of powertrain technologies — ICE, hybrid, BEV, FCEV, CNG, and synthetic fuels — yet a comprehensive, system-level understanding of their total lifecycle energy efficiency remains fragmented. Decision-makers and policymakers need a transparent, comparable framework covering the full chain from energy production to end-use.

Efficiency and environmental impact are region-specific. The same technology can perform very differently depending on:

• National energy mix (renewables vs fossil-based electricity)
• Fuel production pathways
• Infrastructure maturity
• Industrial and supply chain characteristics

There is no universally optimal solution — but stakeholders currently lack the tools to assess these regional differences clearly.

The team is expected to build a quantitative, engineering-focused model that analyzes the full energy conversion chain of different powertrains — from source to wheel (source → processing → storage → conversion → drivetrain → wheel) — under region-specific conditions. Special emphasis should be placed on energy storage technologies (batteries, hydrogen, fuel systems) as key drivers of system efficiency and losses. The project should identify efficiency bottlenecks at each stage, evaluate real-world performance across key use cases, and integrate local factors such as energy mix and infrastructure.

The outcomes can include solutions and frameworks that help stakeholders choose and optimize the right powertrain technology for their specific region.