The American Lung Association in California’s latest study, The Road to Clean Air, provides a vision of advanced California motor vehicle standards that can provide significant public health, environmental and petroleum independence benefits to California when compared to current vehicle standards.
From coast to coast, the over-reliance on fossil fuels for nearly all transportation damages our air, our health, our environment and our economy
General Results of Road to Clean Air Analysis
When fully implemented across the fleet, advanced standards recommended by the American Lung Association in California’s Road to Clean Air were found to:
reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 45 – 52%
reduce smog-forming emissions by 75% – 85%
reduce petroleum consumption by 38 – 49%
reduce premature deaths and illnesses by 65 – 75%
A 100% ZEV fleet could attain a 90% reduction in illnesses
reduce public health, global warming and societal costs by 50 – 56%
Health Damages Avoided Annually by Road to Clean Air Recommendations
400 – 420 premature deaths avoided
420 – 440 respiratory ER visits and cardiac/respiratory hospitalizations avoided
8,075 – 8,440 asthma attacks and lower respiratory symptoms avoided
181,000 – 190,000 acute and upper respiratory symptoms avoided
390 – 405 heart attacks avoided
28,100 – 29,300 work loss days avoided
8,800 – 9,500 missed school days avoided
Total Costs Avoided Annually by Road to Clean Air Recommendations
$7.2 – $8.1 billion in annual health, global warming and societal costs avoided
$3.7 – $3.9 billion in health damages avoided
$1.4 – $1.6 billion in climate damages avoided
$110 – $120 million in environmental damages avoided
$2.0 – $2.6 billion in energy security costs avoided
Tons Per Day of Emissions Avoided by Road to Clean Air recommendations
122,000 – 139,000 tons per day of greenhouse gases
175 – 189 tons per day of smog-forming gases
90 – 99 tons per day of VOC
85 – 90 tons per day of NOx
14 – 15 tons per day of PM2.5
The report states In order to achieve – and accelerate – the health and climate benefits presented in this analysis, a number of state, federal and local actions must take place to increase ZEV deployment in all ZEV states and support a thriving ZEV market across the country.
Necessary actions include the following:
1.The California Air Resources Board should strengthen the California ZEV program in 2017 to ensure that 1.5 million ZEVs – BEVs, PHEVs and FCVs – are on the road in California and over 3 million are on the road in the 10 ZEV States by 2025 and ensure that 15% of all new cars and light trucks sold will be required to be ZEVs. California must also stay the course on ending the loophole (called the “Travel Provision”) that stalls ZEV sales in states outside of California that have adopted the ZEV program.
2. Federal and state leaders should support key policies to spur sales of BEVs, PHEVs and FCVs, including:
a. Extend and increase federal, state and local rebates and tax credits designed to support ZEV deployment and make ZEVs accessible to people of all income levels.
b. Promote non-monetary incentives such as access to preferred parking and access to highway “carpool” lanes for ZEV technologies.
c. Support public and private investment, including utility programs, to build and expand vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure for workplaces, public spaces and residences, including multi-unit dwellings.
d. Support programs to increase zero emission technologies across the transportation sector as a whole, including for buses, trucks, and other heavy-duty vehicles and equipment.
e. Ensure that the cleanest available technologies benefit all communities, including disadvantaged communities and those most impacted by pollution today.
3. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and states must implement the federal Clean Power Plan and strengthen state-level renewable energy goals and programs to shift ZEV power sources from fossil fuels to non-combustion electricity generation as quickly as possible.
For families across the United States, and especially those living with respiratory illnesses or in close proximity to major roadways, freeways or other pollution hot spots, the transition to zero emission transportation solutions is vital to securing a healthier future. Everyone can participate in this future by supporting strong state and federal actions, and on a personal level, choosing a zero emission technology when making a vehicle purchase decision.