Use of statewide models as a decision tool for zero-emission vehicles deployment

Under worldwide environmental stress, zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) are rapidly coming to market. However, it is not clear how such vehicles reduce vehicular emissions at a spatially explicit level, which is crucial for developing specific policies. This study proposed a quantitative approach to estimate the effectiveness of ZEVs in reducing emissions to support investment decisions promoting the use of ZEVs. The approach uses existing statewide travel demand and mobile emission models in an integrated framework. Scenarios are designed to measure the emissions reduction effects of ZEVs at different spatial scales (statewide, county, and roadway) and characteristics (densely and sparsely populated counties) and with various levels of market penetration and driving range limits. Results show significant spatial differentiation of the impact of ZEV deployment from county to roadway levels. Offering greater spatial detail and new insights on decision-making processes, this study described an integrated tool for identifying effective strategies for ZEV implementation.