title: Life cycle air quality impacts of conventional and alternative light-duty transportation in the United States.
abstract: 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 (PM2.5). 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8864-7436
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tessum
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108 hill0408@umn.edu julian@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; and hill0408@umn.edu julian@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Julian D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D056804:Biofuels; D005260:Female; D005742:Gasoline; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D059205:Renewable Energy; D014186:Transportation; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005742:Gasoline; D010126:Ozone
keywords: LCA; bioelectricity; externality; pollution; spatial