SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study has found that electric vehicles (EVs) can be up to 10 times less expensive per ton of pollution removed compared to many existing or proposed emissions controls programs. The new study by EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute), "EVs: A Cost Effective Emissions Control Strategy," provides quantifiable, environmental support for the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) recently reconfirmed commitment to the 1998 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program.
"Electric cars and trucks represent one of the most cost-effective ways of cleaning up the air in California and throughout the United States," says EPRI-retained researcher, Dr. Oreste Bevilacqua. The just-released EPRI study found electric cars, both in California and nationwide, to be a bargain compared to many other air pollution control methods imposed on small businesses. EPRI used EV cost data from a July 1995 report to Congress by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The report found that as EVs reach price parity with gasoline- powered vehicles, emissions reductions will be achieved at no cost to the consumer or society -- "a statement few other air pollution control strategies can make," adds Dr. Bevilacqua.
The EPRI study found the EV's air pollution benefit to be very similar to that reported in earlier studies by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the California Air Resources Board -- that EVs in California are more than 97 percent cleaner than gasoline-powered vehicles when all fuel pollution sources were considered including power plants, refineries, and refueling stations, in addition to tailpipe emissions.
The EPRI study found, using South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) data, that the 1.1 million EVs projected to populate the Los Angeles region in 2010 would reduce more than three times the air pollution than would expanding rideshare rules to cover schools, airports, shopping malls, and sports complexes. That number of EVs would also reduce air pollution more than twice as much as proposed new pollution controls on 20,000 small factory boilers and heaters.
EPRI is a research and development consortium of more than 700 of the nation's utilities, representing about 70 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.
Some of the key, quantitative findings of the report are summarized in the table below:
Cost Proposed Pollution Control Measures
Electric vehicles in California $2,500/ton of pollution removed EVs in other 49 states $900/ton of pollution removed Further controls on commercialSource: AQMDs of San Francisco Bay and Greater Los Angeles areas. EV data from EPRI uses cost information from the U.S. DOE and air quality data from utilities and air pollution control agencies. CO: Electric Power Research Institute ST: California IN: ENV AUT SU: /CONTACT: Dawn Locklear or Michael Coates of Green Car Media, 408-399-9081/ [11-21-95 at 09:01 EST, PR Newswire]
bakeries $11,200/ton of pollution removed New indoor/outdoor paint controls $20,100/ton of pollution removed Commercial dry cleaning plant
controls $21,300/ton of pollution removed Further controls on car paint shops $24,800/ton of pollution removed Controls on restaurant charbroilers $30,400/ton of pollution removed
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