Article ID: | iaor1989244 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 23A |
Issue: | 3 |
Start Page Number: | 255 |
End Page Number: | 278 |
Publication Date: | May 1989 |
Journal: | Transportation Research. Part A, Policy and Practice |
Authors: | DeLuchi Mark, Wang Quanlu, Sperling Daniel |
Electric vehicles (EV) are periodically promoted as quiet, pollution-free alternatives to gasoline vehicles. They have failed each time because of inferior performance and high costs. In this paper, we conduct an updated and detailed evaluation of the performance, costs, environmental impacts, and recharging requirements of electric vehicles. The authors find that considerable progress has been made in EV battery and powertrain technology since the last surge of interest in EVs in the 1970s. If the development of high-performance batteries continues as expected, advanced electric vehicles could have an urban range of over 150miles and acceleration comparable to that provided by internal combusion engine vehicles (ICEVs). And if optimistic battery cost, life, and performance goals are achieved, mass-produced EVs will have lower life-cycle costs than comparable conventional gasoline vehicles. EVs will reduce emissions per mile of HC, CO, and NO