A new study reveals that air quality improves in higher-income neighborhoods as the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road increases. At the same time, conditions remain the same or worsen in low-income areas.
Environmental Data Reveals Disparity in Air Quality
Phys.org tells us that environmental scientists and city administrators from the University of California, Berkeley, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the University of Miami examined the impact of introducing EVs in California and the subsequent changes in air quality.
To learn more about the true impact of switching from gasoline-powered vehicles (GVs) to electric vehicles (EVs), the researchers obtained and analyzed environmental data collected as part of a government EV rebate program from 2010 to 2021.
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The researchers discovered that as EV sales increased, air quality in neighborhoods with higher incomes tended to improve, as predicted, but the opposite was true for areas with lower incomes, where conditions did not change significantly or worsened. The study uncovered three significant causes for this disparity.
Eye-Opening Findings
Vehicles that travel on highways located near poor communities emit more pollutants due to the wear and tear of the road and tires. Airborne particles from tire treads, brake pads, and dust and debris stirred up by speeding vehicles contribute to this pollution.
Additionally, as the demand for charging electric vehicles rises, power plants - often located closer to low-income communities - generate more air pollution.
Finally, the higher price of electric vehicles means they are less likely to be driven in poor neighborhoods where residents cannot afford them.
What This Means for EV Adoption Efforts
These findings highlight the need for policymakers and industry leaders to resolve these concerns to ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of EV adoption.
Investing in the modernization of infrastructure and the development of programs to expand access to sustainable transportation in underserved communities is essential.
The study's authors suggested that developing charging infrastructure in disadvantaged communities, providing incentives for adopting electric vehicles, and enhancing public transportation options can assist in addressing the issue.
In addition, they suggested implementing policies to reduce the emissions generated by vehicles traveling on highways and near residential areas.
According to the US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are around 51,000 public EV charging stations in the United States. However, this appears to be inadequate for a growing market.
To address these issues, President Joe Biden recently approved a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill in 2021, including $7.5 billion for constructing 500,000 public EV chargers by 2030.
EVs Remain a Hefty Choice for Buyers
EVs have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their innovative new take on no-emission vehicles. However, owning an EV comes with high-cost many consumers cannot afford.
According to a Bloomberg report, automakers such as Tesla (amid recent price cuts) and Rivian retain high prices for their EVs, making them more expensive than the average vehicle on the market.
On average, the monthly payment for any vehicle is $691, and car buyers are advised to spend 10% of their take-home pay on their vehicle. This means that to afford the average new vehicle; a household would need to earn about $110,000 a year.
However, consumers need to be relatively well-off to afford an EV, with around one-third of American households earning more than $100,000 a year.
EV revenue is forecasted to reach $61.18 billion this year, with unit sales surpassing 2 million vehicles by 2027.
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