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Environmental Impact Assessment of Internal Combustion and Electric Engines for Maritime Transport

Abstract:

This paper aims to analyze the impacts of replacing the propulsion technology of small-scale maritime transportation, which currently uses internal combustion engines and may be required to be replaced by electrical propulsion. This analysis has been performed through a qualitative and quantitative assessment of socio-environmental impacts of the replacement proposal. The methodology followed for estimating the impacts of using both types of engines was to adopt a graded scale and a cause-effect matrix. This methodology allowed relating the activities of both types of propulsion with social and environmental factors. The evaluation of the socio-environmental impacts showed that electrical engines generate 2.8 times less impact if compared with combustion engines due to pollution reduction mainly. Consequently, it was possible to highlight the environmental benefit that the implementation of electric engine generates in small-scale maritime transport.