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Electric Vehicles: Performance, Life-Cycle Costs, Emissions, and Recharging Requirements

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  • DeLuchi, Mark A.
  • Wang, Quanlu
  • Sperling, Daniel

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EV) are periodically promoted as quiet, pollution-free alternatives to gasoline vehicles. They have failed each time because of inferior performance and high costs. In this paper, we conduct an updated and detailed evaluation of the performance, costs, environmental impacts, and recharging requirements of electric vehicles. We find that considerable progress has been made in EV battery and powertrain technology since the last surge of interest in EVs in the 1970s. If the development of high-performance batteries continues as expected, advanced electric vehicles could have an urban range of over 150 miles and acceleration comparable to that provided by internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). And if optimistic battery cost, life, and performance goals are achieved, mass-produced EVs will have lower life-cycle costs than comparable conventional gasoline vehicles. EVs will reduce emissions per mile of HC, CO, and NOx, compared to stringently controlled ICEVs. By the turn of the century, electric passenger vehicles could be viable as second cars in multicar households and in other limited markets. If an economical form of fast recharging is developed, the potential role of EVs will be much larger. No longer does successful commercialization depend on technical break-throughs.

Suggested Citation

  • DeLuchi, Mark A. & Wang, Quanlu & Sperling, Daniel, 1989. "Electric Vehicles: Performance, Life-Cycle Costs, Emissions, and Recharging Requirements," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt4w0463pt, University of California Transportation Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:uctcwp:qt4w0463pt
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    Cited by:

    1. Johansson, Bengt & Mårtensson, Anders, 2000. "Energy and environmental costs for electric vehicles using CO2-neutral electricity in Sweden," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 25(8), pages 777-792.
    2. Collantes, Gustavo & Sperling, Daniel, 2008. "The origin of California's zero emission vehicle mandate," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(10), pages 1302-1313, December.
    3. Rienstra, Sytze A. & Nijkamp, Peter, 1997. "The role of electric cars in Amsterdam's transport system in the year 2015: a scenario approach," Serie Research Memoranda 0028, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    4. Purvins, Arturs & Zubaryeva, Alyona & Llorente, Maria & Tzimas, Evangelos & Mercier, Arnaud, 2011. "Challenges and options for a large wind power uptake by the European electricity system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1461-1469, May.
    5. Yan, Jianghui & Tseng, Fang-Mei & Lu, Louis Y.Y., 2018. "Developmental trajectories of new energy vehicle research in economic management: Main path analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 168-181.
    6. Jochem, Patrick & Babrowski, Sonja & Fichtner, Wolf, 2015. "Assessing CO2 emissions of electric vehicles in Germany in 2030," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 68-83.
    7. Vazifeh, Mohammad M. & Zhang, Hongmou & Santi, Paolo & Ratti, Carlo, 2019. "Optimizing the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations using pervasive mobility data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 75-91.
    8. J A Roqué, 1995. "Electric Vehicle Manufacturing in Southern California: Local versus Regional Environmental Hazards," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 27(6), pages 907-932, June.
    9. Lawrence Fulton, 2020. "A Publicly Available Simulation of Battery Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Gas-Powered Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    10. Scag & Path, 1993. "Highway Electrification And Automation Technologies - Regional Impacts Analysis Project: Executive Summary," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt0dg9b907, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.

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    Social and Behavioral Sciences;

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