Bingrong Sun | National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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Presentation Description

As cities and states strive to achieve 100% carbon-free energy, ensuring equitable access to clean energy technologies like electric vehicles (EVs) becomes essential. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities in EV adoption in Los Angeles, focusing on marginalized populations who often face barriers such as lack of home charging infrastructure and higher upfront costs. By 2035, it's projected that most EV owners will be from low-to-middle income groups, underscoring the need for policies that address these challenges.

The research employs three analytical models to simulate scenarios for EV adoption and the necessary infrastructure development: the Automotive Deployment Options Projection Tool (ADOPT), the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Projection (EVI-Pro) tool, and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for Equity (EVI-Equity) model. These models help evaluate the effects of existing rebates, estimate the charging demands of future EV fleets, and analyze equitable distribution of resources across varying socioeconomic demographics.

The study compares two main scenarios: a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario, which continues current trends without additional interventions, and an Equity scenario that proposes new financial support measures to enhance adoption rates among disadvantaged populations. The BAU scenario analysis reveals that, without further action, the transition to EVs may disproportionately burden lower-income families, particularly those without access to private charging options.

In response, the Equity scenario suggests increasing municipal rebates for households earning $40,000 or less from $2,500 to $4,000. Additionally, it recommends a new initiative offering a $300 annual subsidy for EV owners who rely on public charging stations. These interventions are expected to increase the adoption of used EVs by 2%, representing about 50,000 additional vehicles by 2035. This shift could significantly reduce overall transportation costs for these families by making used EVs like the Nissan Leaf or Kia EV6 more affordable.

The paper concludes that targeted financial incentives are vital for encouraging EV adoption among economically disadvantaged groups. By focusing on affordable used EVs and supporting those without home charging solutions, these policies can help ensure that the benefits of cleaner transportation are shared more broadly across all segments of the population. The findings serve as a valuable guide for local governments and policymakers to develop inclusive and sustainable transportation strategies, ensuring that disadvantaged communities gain from the transition to cleaner, more efficient vehicles.

Speaker Biography

Dr. Sun is currently a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Her current research focuses on traveler behavior analysis, travel demand modeling, and intelligent transportation systems. Her research explores travelers' preference towards the new/emerging transportation technologies and concepts (e.g., connected vehicles, micromobility, urban air mobililty), with the goal to enhance user satisfaction while simultaneously improving the mobility and energy performance of transportation systems. She is also interested in exploring the interdisciplinary research topics between transportation and other domains, such as building technologies and power systems. Her work has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, multiple state DOTs and public utilities. She also serves as member of TRB AED20 Urban Data Committee. Dr. Sun earned her Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Virginia, a master's degree in transportation planning, and a bachelor's degree in traffic engineering from Dalian University of Technology, China.

Co-presenters

Dong-Yeon Lee
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Alana Wilson
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Gregory Sarvas
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

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