Life cycle air quality impacts of conventional and alternative light-duty transportation in the United States

Tessum, Christopher W.; Hill, Jason D.; Marshall, Julian D.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1406853111

Title: Life cycle air quality impacts of conventional and alternative light-duty transportation in the United States

Journal Article · Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1406853111· OSTI ID:1235153

^[1]; Hill, Jason D. ^[2]; Marshall, Julian D. ^[1]

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, and
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108

Commonly considered strategies for reducing the environmental impact of light-duty transportation include using alternative fuels and improving vehicle fuel economy. We evaluate the air quality-related human health impacts of 10 such options, including the use of liquid biofuels, diesel, and compressed natural gas (CNG) in internal combustion engines; the use of electricity from a range of conventional and renewable sources to power electric vehicles (EVs); and the use of hybrid EV technology. Our approach combines spatially, temporally, and chemically detailed life cycle emission inventories; comprehensive, fine-scale state-of-the-science chemical transport modeling; and exposure, concentration–response, and economic health impact modeling for ozone (O₃) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). We find that powering vehicles with corn ethanol or with coal-based or “grid average” electricity increases monetized environmental health impacts by 80% or more relative to using conventional gasoline. Conversely, EVs powered by low-emitting electricity from natural gas, wind, water, or solar power reduce environmental health impacts by 50% or more. Consideration of potential climate change impacts alongside the human health outcomes described here further reinforces the environmental preferability of EVs powered by low-emitting electricity relative to gasoline vehicles.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0004379; R1-0026-09; RO-0002-11; AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 1235153

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1215647

Journal Information:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Vol. 111 Journal Issue: 52; ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 170 works

Citation information provided by
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