Recognizing the Potential to Reduce GHG Emissions Through Air Transportation Electrification

Abstract

California is aggressively moving forward with efforts to deploy zero-emission transportation technology to fight climate change, especially the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the high-impact transportation sector. However, to date, the investments California has made with Cap-and-Trade funding have focused on ground transportation and some marine sources and not the aircraft at the over 140 airports in the state. Through a California-focused comprehensive GHG emissions analysis, this research project seeks to determine how RAM using electric/hybrid electric aircraft can provide new high-speed transportation for high-priority passenger and cargo movement within Fresno County and connections to coastal urban centers. Using VISION, a model developed by the Argonne National Laboratory Transportation Systems Assessment Group, the research team identified and compared the emission per mile and emission per passenger mile between different modes of transportation using traditional petroleum fuel and other sustainable alternatives at an individual level and within the context of the transportation sector, by comparing different modes of transportation. With this estimation on hand, it becomes more viable for the state of California and other states, as well as the federal government, to establish guidelines and goals for transportation policies and investments.