California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist
Abstract Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption is a key climate mitigation tool, but its environmental justice implications remain unclear. Here, we quantify ZEV adoption at the census tract level in California from 2015 to 2020 and project it to 2035 when all new passenger vehicles sold are expected...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43309-9 |
| _version_ | 1797388229661425664 |
|---|---|
| author | Qiao Yu Brian Yueshuai He Jiaqi Ma Yifang Zhu |
| author_facet | Qiao Yu Brian Yueshuai He Jiaqi Ma Yifang Zhu |
| author_sort | Qiao Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption is a key climate mitigation tool, but its environmental justice implications remain unclear. Here, we quantify ZEV adoption at the census tract level in California from 2015 to 2020 and project it to 2035 when all new passenger vehicles sold are expected to be ZEVs. We then apply an integrated traffic model together with a dispersion model to simulate air quality changes near roads in the Greater Los Angeles. We found that per capita ZEV ownership in non-disadvantaged communities (non-DACs) as defined by the state of California is 3.8 times of that in DACs. Racial and ethnic minorities owned fewer ZEVs regardless of DAC designation. While DAC residents receive 40% more pollutant reduction than non-DACs due to intercommunity ZEV trips in 2020, they remain disproportionately exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution. With more ZEVs in 2035, the exposure disparity narrows. However, to further reduce disparities, the focus must include trucks, emphasizing the need for targeted ZEV policies that address persistent pollution burdens among DAC and racial and ethnic minority residents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:37:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c75f6cbb3f2a4b928de829d422bc65f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:37:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-c75f6cbb3f2a4b928de829d422bc65f22023-12-17T12:22:29ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-12-0114111410.1038/s41467-023-43309-9California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persistQiao Yu0Brian Yueshuai He1Jiaqi Ma2Yifang Zhu3Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los AngelesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Los AngelesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Los AngelesDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los AngelesAbstract Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption is a key climate mitigation tool, but its environmental justice implications remain unclear. Here, we quantify ZEV adoption at the census tract level in California from 2015 to 2020 and project it to 2035 when all new passenger vehicles sold are expected to be ZEVs. We then apply an integrated traffic model together with a dispersion model to simulate air quality changes near roads in the Greater Los Angeles. We found that per capita ZEV ownership in non-disadvantaged communities (non-DACs) as defined by the state of California is 3.8 times of that in DACs. Racial and ethnic minorities owned fewer ZEVs regardless of DAC designation. While DAC residents receive 40% more pollutant reduction than non-DACs due to intercommunity ZEV trips in 2020, they remain disproportionately exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution. With more ZEVs in 2035, the exposure disparity narrows. However, to further reduce disparities, the focus must include trucks, emphasizing the need for targeted ZEV policies that address persistent pollution burdens among DAC and racial and ethnic minority residents.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43309-9 |
| spellingShingle | Qiao Yu Brian Yueshuai He Jiaqi Ma Yifang Zhu California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist Nature Communications |
| title | California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist |
| title_full | California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist |
| title_fullStr | California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist |
| title_full_unstemmed | California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist |
| title_short | California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist |
| title_sort | california s zero emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43309-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qiaoyu californiaszeroemissionvehicleadoptionbringsairqualitybenefitsyetequitygapspersist AT brianyueshuaihe californiaszeroemissionvehicleadoptionbringsairqualitybenefitsyetequitygapspersist AT jiaqima californiaszeroemissionvehicleadoptionbringsairqualitybenefitsyetequitygapspersist AT yifangzhu californiaszeroemissionvehicleadoptionbringsairqualitybenefitsyetequitygapspersist |