POLICY BRIEF
Electric Vehicle Benefits and Costs in the United States The US imports 5 million barrels of oil per day. Transportation accounts for 70%.
source: [1]
POLLUTION DAMAGES
Transportation and electricity generation account for ~ 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. TRANSPORTATION
ELECTRICITY
AGRICULT URE
source: eia.gov
INDUSTRY
Each vehicle's air pollution causes thousands of dollars of damages to human health and the environment. Plug-in vehicles could increase or decrease air pollution damages, depending on the electricity source.
CO RE MM SI ER DE C NT IAL IA / L
source: epa.gov
Motivations for vehicle electrification Energy Security: Reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Air Quality: Reduce air pollution and its effects on human health and the environment. Climate Change: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate change. Economics: Reduce cost of driving, use local energy sources, and lead new technology innovation.
Electrification helps achieve these goals sometimes, but not always. Benefits vary based on... Vehicle Type A typical gasoline vehicle may generate around $4,000 of costs to society over its life, in the form of human health costs, environmental damages, and other air pollution costs. A hybrid electric (HEV) or plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle could lower these costs by 15-30%, depending on the electricity source. A pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) could either cut these costs in half or double them, depending on the electricity source. HEVs and PHEVs tend to offer more air emissions and oil displacement benefits per dollar spent than pure BEVs with comparable range.1
Vehicle Electrification Comparison
Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs)
CV
HEV
PHEV
BEV
Conventional
Hybrid Electric
Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Battery Electric
increasing electrification
battery power converter electricity gasoline
D R I V E T R A I N
S O U R C E
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SMALL
MEDIUM
LARGE
ENGINE
ENGINE & MOTOR
ENGINE & MOTOR
MOTOR
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Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
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