zero-emissions vehicle

General Motors EV1 on display at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI

A zero-emissions vehicle, or ZEV will produce no emissions or pollution from the vehicle when stationary or operating. Emissions of concern include particulates (soot), hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and various oxides of nitrogen. Although not considered an emission by the CARB definition, carbon dioxide is one of the most important greenhouse gas implicated in global warming scenarios.

"Zero emissions" does not mean that the complete power cycle is non-polluting, except in special cases, since in most cases the energy is provided from fossil fuel plants. This may still be an advantage for urban areas when compared to conventional vehicles. Special cases producing zero pollution in the operating energy cycle would include electric vehicles where an offsetting amount of zero emissions power is provided, especially solar electric or wind generated power.

Hydrogen powered vehicles as proposed by the automotive industry are especially questionable in their net pollution since current economic production of hydrogen is typically by the processing of natural gas or coal using water in processes using high temperature and pressure. Unless special care is taken to sequester the carbon dioxide and other more toxic waste from these processes, a future "hydrogen economy" may produce even more greenhouse gases and toxic pollution than the current fossil fuel usage. However, hydrogen may be produced from water using electricity, which may be derived from solar power or hydropower, but currently at greater expense than from fossil fuels. The expenses from using solar power appear greater than for fossil fuels largely because many of the costs of fossil fuels have been externalized with someone other than the producer and consumer of the product bearing the indirect costs of the cycle (though these may be the same population, bearing for example, increased health costs).

"Zero emissions" also does not include emissions associated with manufacturing such vehicles or components, nor outgassing from synthetic materials used in vehicle construction, nor soot-like dust from tire wear, nor potential pollution associated with end-of-life vehicle or vehicle component dismantling, recycling and reuse.

Types

Public transport

Electric trains, subways, trolleybuses, trams, and cycle rickshaws.

Private transport

Bicycles are the most popular zero-emissions .

Battery electric vehicles do not emit any of the above pollutants, nor any CO₂ gases during use, which can be a particularly important property in densely populated areas. However the production of the fuels that power ZEVs, such as the production of electricity or hydrogen from a coal-fired power plant, may produce more or less emissions per mile than the emissions produced from a conventional gasoline powered vehicle, depending on the energy source. A well-to-wheel life cycle assessment is necessary to understand the emissions implications associated with operating a ZEV.

Other zero emission vehicle technologies include plug-in hybrids when in electric mode, hydrogen vehicles utilizing fuel cells, compressed air vehicles typically recharged by slow (home) or fast (road station) electric compressors, flywheel energy storage vehicles, solar powered cars and tribrids.

Incentives

Subsidies for public transport

CARB ZEV program

External links

Official California site on ZEVs and PZEVs
New Scientific American article
2003 Zero Emission Vehicle Program Changes, a CARB factsheet

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