Meg Fay | University of Vermont

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Presentation Description

The electrification of the transportation sector provides an unprecedented opportunity to reduce criteria air pollutant exposure. An effective and equitable transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is challenged by population growth, increased traffic, and existing disparities in roadway emissions exposure. In this study, we develop high-resolution traffic and criteria air pollutant emission forecasts for every US census block through the year 2050. We base these projections on various EV adoption and population growth scenarios and contrast them with a reference case. We use these forecasts to (1) assess the change in exposure to criteria air pollutant emissions from on-road vehicle traffic as the nation moves towards full electrification of the vehicle fleet, (2) quantify the cumulative exposure impacts during the transition period for different EV adoption scenarios, and (3) identify disproportionate exposure impacts on communities, including currently overburdened communities. We use U.S. Census block emission density estimates as a novel surrogate for emission exposure that enables insights into localized impacts across the U.S. The high spatial resolution allows for the examination of community-level emission changes caused by EV transition scenarios. The temporal dimension of these projections enhances our understanding of how different EV adoption rates may affect cumulative exposures and health outcomes. With this comprehensive approach, we aim to better understand the air quality, health, and equity impacts of delays in the transition to a zero-emission vehicle fleet which can be used to evaluate the costs and benefits of policies focused on increasing EV adoption.

Speaker Biography

Meg Fay is a Civil and Environmental Engineering graduate student at the University of Vermont. Their current research focuses on transportation-related air pollution, investigating critical issues such as vehicle electrification and exposure disparity. Their work relates to how air quality legislation and transportation planning processes translate into cumulative environmental justice and public health impacts. Meg holds Bachelor's degrees in Chemistry and Environmental Science with a focus on Air, Climate, and Energy from Brown University.

Co-presenters

Gregory Rowangould
University of Vermont

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