Simulation Confirms Diffusion of EVs Drastically Improves Urban Environment

2010.06.05 Sat

In its December 25, 2009, newsletter (No.463), Japan's Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry released an analysis of its simulation on how broader use of electric vehicles (EVs) contributes to improving the urban environment.

In the simulation, using road area and traffic volume data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the institute estimated the amounts of exhaust gas and heat from all vehicles if EVs were to replace all passenger automobiles, buses, and small freight vehicles, which account for 83 percent of all vehicles in Tokyo's 23 wards.

The results showed that introduction of EVs into Tokyo's 23 wards would reduce the total energy consumption of all vehicles by 40 percent (calculated in prime energy consumption), and would improve the urban environment drastically by reducing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions from vehicles by 75, 45 and 20 percent, respectively. Reductions in airborne pollutants would also reduce the energy needed for ventilators in tunnels and parking lots.

Reductions in exhaust heat from vehicles would lower the temperature in the city center by a maximum of 0.4 degrees Celsius at eight o'clock in the morning, under good weather conditions with a slight breeze in the summer. This is expected to have an effect in reducing the heat-island phenomenon. The decline in temperatures would lead to a reduction in power consumption for cooling buildings by about 30,000 kilowatts at peak hours in the daytime, equivalent to power consumption of about 10,000 households, and this is estimated to further lower temperatures.

Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry official website
http://criepi.denken.or.jp/en/

Posted: 2010/06/05 06:00:15 AM