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4
Electrification of Transportation
Abstract
The electrification of transportation is a key development for society because
of its impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.
The economic appeal of electric vehicles has continuously increased with
the rapid decline in battery prices over the past several years, with average
prices of less than $200/kWh in 2018, and projected future prices of less than
$50/kWh. With reduced battery prices, electric cars and electric bikes will
become attractive options for those looking for inexpensive transportation.
In 2018, the number of EVs in service (cars, buses, and trucks) increased to
more than 5 million, with a large fraction of these being in China. There were
more than 100 million electric bicycles in service in 2018, with more than 60%
of these being in China. Electric buses have significant air quality benefits
which have helped to justify their purchase in China, in California, and in
major cities like London and elsewhere. Norway currently leads the world in
this transition, with about 40% of new car sales being EVs in 2018. EVs that
can be charged with renewable electricity also have the capability to store
energy and provide benefits to grid operators and managers.
4.1 Introduction
The electrification of transportation is a major development that can significantly help in the reduction of greenhouse gases and the improvement of air
quality. Its importance comes from its potential to address the two largest
sources of greenhouse gas emissions: Direct emissions from transportation
and potentiating shifts in the generation of electricity to cleaner methods.
Although either of these sources of emissions can be tackled separately – we
can shift to electric vehicles without changing the methods of electricity generation, or we can change electricity generation methods without adopting
electric vehicles – the combination of these two developments is particularly
powerful. This chapter reviews a number of the recent developments in electric cars, electric bicycles, electric buses, and electric trucks that have resulted
in significant growth in the number of new vehicles sold annually. There
39
4
Electrification of Transportation
Abstract
The electrification of transportation is a key development for society because
of its impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.
The economic appeal of electric vehicles has continuously increased with
the rapid decline in battery prices over the past several years, with average
prices of less than $200/kWh in 2018, and projected future prices of less than
$50/kWh. With reduced battery prices, electric cars and electric bikes will
become attractive options for those looking for inexpensive transportation.
In 2018, the number of EVs in service (cars, buses, and trucks) increased to
more than 5 million, with a large fraction of these being in China. There were
more than 100 million electric bicycles in service in 2018, with more than 60%
of these being in China. Electric buses have significant air quality benefits
which have helped to justify their purchase in China, in California, and in
major cities like London and elsewhere. Norway currently leads the world in
this transition, with about 40% of new car sales being EVs in 2018. EVs that
can be charged with renewable electricity also have the capability to store
energy and provide benefits to grid operators and managers.
4.1 Introduction
The electrification of transportation is a major development that can significantly help in the reduction of greenhouse gases and the improvement of air
quality. Its importance comes from its potential to address the two largest
sources of greenhouse gas emissions: Direct emissions from transportation
and potentiating shifts in the generation of electricity to cleaner methods.
Although either of these sources of emissions can be tackled separately – we
can shift to electric vehicles without changing the methods of electricity generation, or we can change electricity generation methods without adopting
electric vehicles – the combination of these two developments is particularly
powerful. This chapter reviews a number of the recent developments in electric cars, electric bicycles, electric buses, and electric trucks that have resulted
in significant growth in the number of new vehicles sold annually. There