When we think of electric vehicles, we probably think primarily of passenger vehicles. Research from Northwestern University highlights the impact that could be made if heavy-duty vehicles are converted to electric-powered engines, however.

The researchers emphasize that neighborhoods where most residents are Black, Hispanic, or Latinx would see the most significant advantages. This shift towards electrifying heavy-duty vehicles has the potential to alleviate the unequal pollution and health problems that have affected historically marginalized areas.

While the study’s primary focus is on the lower Great Lakes region, encompassing cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, these findings suggest that a nationwide transition to electric heavy-duty vehicles could address persistent environmental inequalities related to pollution disparities in major cities across the country.

Sizeable contribution

“Heavy-duty vehicles only constitute a small portion of the total on-road vehicle fleet — about 6% — but they disproportionately contribute to the emission and/or creation of health-harming air pollutants and greenhouse gases,” the researchers explain. “In fact, the heavy-duty vehicle sector is the largest contributor to on-road nitrogen oxides and second largest source of on-road carbon dioxide emissions. Targeting this small portion of vehicles could have outsized implications for emission reductions.”

For their study, the researchers used a detailed computer model to understand air pollution in different neighborhoods. This model looks at things like nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and tiny particles in the air and how they change over time and in different areas.

First, they used this model to see how much pollution there was in the region without making any changes. Then, they looked at data about the people who live in each neighborhood and how pollution affects their health.

Next, they ran the model again, but this time they imagined that 30% of big vehicles like buses and trucks would become electric. They also looked at how this would affect the power plants that make electricity for these vehicles.

Fall in pollution

Here’s what they found:

• If 30% of these big vehicles used electricity, and that electricity mostly came from fossil fuels in 2016, pollution from vehicles would go down a lot, even though pollution from power plants would go up a bit.
• The air would be cleaner in most places, except for some areas in cities where there would be more ozone pollution.
• Overall, the amount of carbon dioxide going into the air would decrease by about 2.5 million tonnes (or 2.76 million tons) each year.
• Fewer people would get sick and die early because of pollution. About 590 fewer people would die from breathing in less nitrogen dioxide and about 70 fewer people would die from breathing in fewer tiny particles. However, there would be about 50 more deaths each year because of increased ozone pollution in cities.

“The health benefits from reductions in nitrogen dioxide are still so high — irrespective of the increase in ozone — that the overall benefits are substantial,” the researchers explain. “The chemistry that controls ozone pollution is complicated, and additional measures to regulate volatile organic compounds may be needed.”

Imagine a future where our power grid relies more on clean energy sources like wind and solar. This change could have a huge impact on both lives and money saved. For instance, if we use renewable energy to provide 30% of the extra electricity needed for electric heavy-duty vehicles, our region could save a massive $1.4 billion every year. This is mainly because we’d emit much less carbon dioxide. In contrast, our current grid setup only saves us $456 million annually. So, going green with our energy could make a big difference.

“Electric heavy-duty vehicle adoption not only reduces the greenhouse gas emissions that drive human-caused climate change, it also saves lives and helps tackle historical inequities in pollutant exposure,” the authors conclude. “While electric-vehicle adoption won’t solve all of our collective climate, air quality and environmental justice problems, it does offer a number of benefits relative to our current fossil-fuel intensive transportation system.”