Electric versus Gasoline Vehicle Particulate Matter and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Large-scale Analysis

This study addresses the contentious issue of non-exhaust particulate matter (PM) emissions from battery electric vehicles (BEVs) compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) by developing models to quantify tire and brake PM emissions and incorporate them in a microscopic traffic simulation environment. Furthermore, exhaust greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are quantified to develop a comprehensive picture of vehicle network emissions. The key findings are: 1) BEVs emit more tire and less brake PM emissions, thus necessitating a comprehensive analysis to avoid erroneous conclusions. 2) If at least 15% of travel is city driving, BEVs produce less non-exhaust PM emissions. 3) For the freeway section analyzed, a volume-to-capacity ratio of at least 0.25 is required for BEVs to produce less non-exhaust PM emissions. By incorporating these detailed models into traffic simulations, the study provides a tool for policymakers to better understand and manage vehicle emissions at a city level.