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Well-to-wheels greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from battery electric vehicles in China

Author

Listed:
  • Yali Zheng

    (China Society of Automotive Engineers)

  • Xiaoyi He

    (Tsinghua University
    University of Michigan)

  • Hewu Wang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Michael Wang

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Shaojun Zhang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Dong Ma

    (Tsinghua University
    Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences)

  • Binggang Wang

    (China Society of Automotive Engineers)

  • Ye Wu

    (Tsinghua University
    State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex)

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) play a crucial role in addressing climate change and urban air quality concerns. China has emerged as the global largest EV market with 1.2 million EVs sold in 2018. This study established a novel life cycle energy use and emission inventory collecting up-to-date data including the electricity generation mix, emission controls in the power and industrial sectors, and the energy use in the fuel transport to estimate the well-to-wheels (WTW) greenhouse gas (GHG), and air pollutant emissions for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and gasoline passenger vehicles in China. The results show that an average BEV has 35% lower WTW GHG emissions than an average gasoline car. BEVs reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions by 98% and 34%, respectively, but have comparable or slightly higher primary fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Compact and small-size vehicles generally have lower GHG and air pollutant emissions than mid- and large-size vehicles. Class A vehicles contribute the most in the absolute amount of GHG and air pollutant emissions and therefore have the biggest potential for emission reduction. Our results suggest that global policymakers should continue to promote the transition to clean power sources, emission control, and fuel economy regulations, which are critical to enhancing emission mitigation benefits of BEVs. We also suggest EV development strategies should be formulated targeting vehicle class with the biggest emission mitigation potentials.

Suggested Citation

  • Yali Zheng & Xiaoyi He & Hewu Wang & Michael Wang & Shaojun Zhang & Dong Ma & Binggang Wang & Ye Wu, 2020. "Well-to-wheels greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from battery electric vehicles in China," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 355-370, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:25:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11027-019-09890-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-019-09890-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    2. Li, Xiang & Yan, Xiaoyu, 2024. "Fast penetration of electric vehicles in China cannot achieve steep cuts in air emissions from road transport without synchronized renewable electricity expansion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    3. Nenming Wang & Guwen Tang, 2022. "A Review on Environmental Efficiency Evaluation of New Energy Vehicles Using Life Cycle Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-35, March.
    4. Jianjun Liu & Jixian Cui & Yixi Li & Yinping Luo & Qianru Zhu & Yutao Luo, 2021. "Synergistic Air Pollutants and GHG Reduction Effect of Commercial Vehicle Electrification in Guangdong’s Public Service Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Adil Amin & Wajahat Ullah Khan Tareen & Muhammad Usman & Kamran Ali Memon & Ben Horan & Anzar Mahmood & Saad Mekhilef, 2020. "An Integrated Approach to Optimal Charging Scheduling of Electric Vehicles Integrated with Improved Medium-Voltage Network Reconfiguration for Power Loss Minimization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-15, November.
    6. Chi, Yuanying & Xu, Weiyue & Xiao, Meng & Wang, Zhengzao & Zhang, Xufeng & Chen, Yahui, 2023. "Fuel-cycle based environmental and economic assessment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).

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