Qiao Yu | 

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Presentation Description

Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption is a key climate mitigation tool, but its environmental justice implications remain unclear. Here, we quantify ZEV adoption at the census tract level in California from 2015 to 2020 and project it to 2035 when all new passenger vehicles sold are expected to be ZEVs. We then apply an integrated traffic model together with a dispersion model to simulate air quality changes near roads in the Greater Los Angeles. We found that per capita ZEV ownership in non-disadvantaged communities (non-DACs) as defined by the state of California is 3.8 times of that in DACs. Racial and ethnic minorities owned fewer ZEVs regardless of DAC designation. While DAC residents receive 40% more pollutant reduction than non-DACs due to intercommunity ZEV trips in 2020, they remain disproportionately exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution. With more ZEVs in 2035, the exposure disparity narrows. However, to further reduce disparities, the focus must include trucks, emphasizing the need for targeted ZEV policies that address persistent pollution burdens among DAC and racial and ethnic minority residents.

Speaker Biography

Qiao Yu is a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA's Department of Environmental Health Sciences, focusing on climate change mitigation, air quality co-benefits, zero emission vehicle (ZEV) policy, and environmental justice. His work has contributed to the LA100 Equity Strategies Report and involves improving clean and equitable transportation for disadvantaged communities through California Climate Action funded projects. Before attending UCLA, he received training in environmental economics and policy at Duke University.

Co-presenters

Brian Yueshuai He
UCLA

Jiaqi Ma
UCLA

Yifang Zhu
UCLA

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