Are Electric Vehicles Really Emission Free? Estimating the Increase in Air Pollutant Emissions from Power Plants in Georgia
Disciplines
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program aims to expedite the development of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Georgia by investing $135 million over five years. By enhancing accessibility to charging stations for all users from various socioeconomic classes, the NEVI Formula Program facilitates the adoption of EVs, thereby significantly reducing vehicle air pollutant emissions. However, as the adoption of EVs and their total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increase, the electrical energy consumption of EVs from the power grid, and consequently, emissions from power plants, are also expected to rise over time. This research employs the Cambium model, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to show that the CO2, CH4, and N2O emission rates of power plants in Georgia during the evening and night hours, i.e., from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am, are respectively 1117%, 1010%, and 1569% higher than these rates during work hours, i.e., between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. In contrast, the majority of EV charging also occurs in the evening and overnight when emission rates peak, i.e., from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am. In the next step, we are developing a machine-learning model to predict the air pollutant emissions of power plants in Georgia with the rise in the electrical energy consumption of EVs from the power grid.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Mahyar Amirgholy
Are Electric Vehicles Really Emission Free? Estimating the Increase in Air Pollutant Emissions from Power Plants in Georgia
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program aims to expedite the development of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Georgia by investing $135 million over five years. By enhancing accessibility to charging stations for all users from various socioeconomic classes, the NEVI Formula Program facilitates the adoption of EVs, thereby significantly reducing vehicle air pollutant emissions. However, as the adoption of EVs and their total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increase, the electrical energy consumption of EVs from the power grid, and consequently, emissions from power plants, are also expected to rise over time. This research employs the Cambium model, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to show that the CO2, CH4, and N2O emission rates of power plants in Georgia during the evening and night hours, i.e., from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am, are respectively 1117%, 1010%, and 1569% higher than these rates during work hours, i.e., between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. In contrast, the majority of EV charging also occurs in the evening and overnight when emission rates peak, i.e., from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am. In the next step, we are developing a machine-learning model to predict the air pollutant emissions of power plants in Georgia with the rise in the electrical energy consumption of EVs from the power grid.