Health and environmental benefits related to electric vehicle introduction in EU countries

Abstract

Introduction of electric vehicles (EV) can help to reduce CO2-emissions and the dependence on petroleum products. However, sometimes relatively larger air pollutant emissions from certain power plants can offset the benefits of replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) cars with EV. The goal of this study was to compare the societal impact (climate change & health effects) of EV introduction in the EU-27 under different scenarios for electricity production. The analysis shows that countries that rely on low air pollutant emitting fuel mixes may gain millions of Euro/annum in terms of avoided external costs. Benefits extend across the EU, especially for emissions in small countries. Transport pollution affects the local scale, while electricity pollution has a regional reach. Other European countries, that depend on more polluting fuel mixes, may not benefit at all from introducing EV. Data on the present fuel mix were available for Belgium, France, Portugal, Denmark and the UK on a detailed time scale (5–30′ basis) and show that the time dependent variation of external cost for charging EV is dwarfed compared to the overall gain for introducing EV. The largest benefit is found in not driving an ICE car and avoiding local combustion related emissions. Data on the present fuel mix were also available for Romania on a detailed time scale (10′) and show that the variation in external costs is relatively larger than for the other countries and at some moments it may be worth the effort, at least in theory, to reschedule EV loading schemes taking into account social impact analysis.