University of California Transportation Center

Alternative vehicular fuels are proposed as a strategy to reduce urban air pollution. In this paper, we analyze the emission Impacts of electric vehicles in California for two target years, 1995 and 2010. We consider a range of assumptions regarding electricity consumption of electric vehicles, emission control technologies for power plants, and the mix of primary energy sources for electrlclfy generaUon. We find that, relative to continued use of gasolinepowered vehicles, the use of electric vehicles wouldramutlcally and unequivOCally reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Under most condltlorm, nitrogen oxide emissions would decrease moderately. Sulfur oxide and parUoulate emlsolons would Increase or slightly decrease. Because other areas of the Unlfed States tend to use more coal In eloctrlclfy generation and have less stringent emission controls on power plants, electric vehicles may have less emission reduction benefits outside California.