IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i2p1138-d1028083.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing and Managing the Direct and Indirect Emissions from Electric and Fossil-Powered Vehicles

Author

Listed:
  • Adekunle Mofolasayo

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Alberta, 116 St. and 85 Ave., Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

Abstract

Efforts to improve air quality and concerns about global warming make transportation mediums that do not produce emissions more attractive to end users. Meanwhile, some of these transportation mediums are powered by an electricity grid that generates a great deal of emissions. This study compared the greenhouse gas GHG emissions for both electric and fossil-powered vehicles using estimates of tailpipe emissions of fossil-powered vehicles and the indirect emissions from the electricity grid. Furthermore, a system dynamic model was developed for a more holistic review of the GHG emissions for both electric and fossil-powered vehicles. The result indicated that in terms of associated emissions from the grid, electric-powered vehicles are not always better than fossil-powered vehicles when the electricity is not from a renewable source. The GHG emissions for electric-powered vehicles are dependent on both the electricity usage rate of the vehicle and the GHG emissions that are associated with the production of that amount of electricity. Further opportunities exist in renewable and clean energy technologies for various operations. Based on reports from previous works, this report also presented potential strategies to achieve a significant reduction in GHG emissions for both the electricity grid and fossil fuel refining processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Adekunle Mofolasayo, 2023. "Assessing and Managing the Direct and Indirect Emissions from Electric and Fossil-Powered Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-33, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1138-:d:1028083
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1138/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1138/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tal, Gil & Karanam, Vaishnavi Chaitanya & Favetti, Matthew P. & Sutton, Katrina May & Ogunmayin, Jade Motayo & Raghavan, Seshadri Srinivasa & Nitta, Christopher & Chakraborty, Debapriya & Davis, Adam , 2021. "Emerging Technology Zero Emission Vehicle Household Travel and Refueling Behavior," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt2v0853tp, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    2. Xing, Jianwei & Leard, Benjamin & Li, Shanjun, 2021. "What does an electric vehicle replace?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Todd Litman & David Burwell, 2006. "Issues in sustainable transportation," International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 6(4), pages 331-347.
    4. Sheldon, Tamara L. & Dua, Rubal, 2018. "Gasoline savings from clean vehicle adoption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 418-424.
    5. Anton A. Toutov & Mike Salata & Alexey Fedorov & Yun-Fang Yang & Yong Liang & Renan Cariou & Kerry N. Betz & Erik P. A. Couzijn & John W. Shabaker & Kendall N. Houk & Robert H. Grubbs, 2017. "A potassium tert-butoxide and hydrosilane system for ultra-deep desulfurization of fuels," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(3), pages 1-7, March.
    6. Tamara L. Sheldon, 2022. "Evaluating Electric Vehicle Policy Effectiveness and Equity," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 669-688, October.
    7. Azarafshar, Roshanak & Vermeulen, Wessel N., 2020. "Electric vehicle incentive policies in Canadian provinces," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    8. Sheldon, Tamara L. & Dua, Rubal, 2019. "Assessing the effectiveness of California's “Replace Your Ride”," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 318-323.
    9. Sheldon, Tamara L. & Dua, Rubal, 2019. "Measuring the cost-effectiveness of electric vehicle subsidies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    10. Sarah E. West, 2005. "Equity Implications of Vehicle Emissions Taxes," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 39(1), pages 1-24, January.
    11. Goto, Kazuya & Yogo, Katsunori & Higashii, Takayuki, 2013. "A review of efficiency penalty in a coal-fired power plant with post-combustion CO2 capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 710-720.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sagar Hossain & Md. Rokonuzzaman & Kazi Sajedur Rahman & A. K. M. Ahasan Habib & Wen-Shan Tan & Md Mahmud & Shahariar Chowdhury & Sittiporn Channumsin, 2023. "Grid-Vehicle-Grid (G2V2G) Efficient Power Transmission: An Overview of Concept, Operations, Benefits, Concerns, and Future Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Haoyi Zhang & Fuquan Zhao & Han Hao & Zongwei Liu, 2023. "Life Cycle Emissions of Passenger Vehicles in China: A Sensitivity Analysis of Multiple Influencing Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Hrvoje Grofelnik & Nataša Kovačić, 2023. "Factors Influencing the Carbon Footprint of Major Road Infrastructure—A Case Study of the Učka Tunnel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Francesco Mocera & Aurelio Somà & Salvatore Martelli & Valerio Martini, 2023. "Trends and Future Perspective of Electrification in Agricultural Tractor-Implement Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-36, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sheldon, Tamara L. & Dua, Rubal & Alharbi, Omar Abdullah, 2023. "Electric vehicle subsidies: Time to accelerate or pump the brakes?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    2. Zhang, Tong & Burke, Paul J. & Wang, Qi, 2024. "Effectiveness of electric vehicle subsidies in China: A three-dimensional panel study," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    3. Burra, Lavan T. & Sommer, Stephan & Vance, Colin, 2024. "Free-ridership in subsidies for company- and private electric vehicles," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    4. Burra, Lavan T. & Sommer, Stephan & Vance, Colin, 2023. "Free-Ridership in Subsidies for Company- and Private Electric Vehicles," Ruhr Economic Papers 1015, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    5. Sheldon, Tamara L. & Dua, Rubal, 2020. "Effectiveness of China's plug-in electric vehicle subsidy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Bjertnæs, Geir H.M., 2023. "Taxation of fuel and vehicles when emissions are constrained," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. Schwab, Julia & Sölch, Christian & Zöttl, Gregor, 2022. "Electric Vehicle Cost in 2035: The impact of market penetration and charging strategies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    8. Fournel, Jean-François, 2023. "Electric Vehicle Subsidies: Cost-Effectiveness and Emission Reductions," TSE Working Papers 23-1465, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    9. Patrick Bigler & Doina Maria Radulescu, 2022. "Environmental, Redistributive and Revenue Effects of Policies Promoting Fuel Efficient and Electric Vehicles," CESifo Working Paper Series 9645, CESifo.
    10. Ji, Dandan & Gan, Hongcheng, 2022. "Effects of providing total cost of ownership information on below-40 young consumers’ intent to purchase an electric vehicle: A case study in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    11. Li, Ping & Zhang, ZhongXiang, 2023. "The effects of new energy vehicle subsidies on air quality: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    12. Peter Haan & Adrián Santonja & Aleksandar Zaklan, 2023. "Effectiveness and Heterogeneous Effects of Purchase Grants for Electric Vehicles," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2032, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    13. Hongchen Li & Huijun Qi & Hongjian Cao & Li Yuan, 2022. "Industrial Policy and Technological Innovation of New Energy Vehicle Industry in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-17, December.
    14. He, Juan & Zheng, Xiaoyong, 2024. "Do consumers try to solve the air pollution problem themselves? the effects of air pollution on purchase of hybrid and electric cars," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 850-868.
    15. Chen, Rongkai & Fan, Ruguo & Wang, Dongxue & Yao, Qianyi, 2023. "Effects of multiple incentives on electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment in China: An evolutionary analysis in complex network," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    16. Nie, Qingyun & Zhang, Lihui & Li, Songrui, 2022. "How can personal carbon trading be applied in electric vehicle subsidies? A Stackelberg game method in private vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    17. Gulnaz Ivanova & António Carrizo Moreira, 2023. "Antecedents of Electric Vehicle Purchase Intention from the Consumer’s Perspective: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    18. Sheldon, Tamara L. & Dua, Rubal, 2021. "How responsive is Saudi new vehicle fleet fuel economy to fuel-and vehicle-price policy levers?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    19. Kobayashi, Makoto & Akiho, Hiroyuki & Nakao, Yoshinobu, 2015. "Performance evaluation of porous sodium aluminate sorbent for halide removal process in oxy-fuel IGCC power generation plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(P3), pages 320-327.
    20. Meng Li & Guowei Hua & Haijun Huang, 2018. "A Multi-Modal Route Choice Model with Ridesharing and Public Transit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1138-:d:1028083. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.