Zero-emissions vehicle

The Tesla Model S electric car is a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV)declared 2013 World Green Car of the Year.[1]

A zero-emissions vehicle, or ZEV, is a vehicle thatemits no tailpipe pollutants from the onboard sourceof power.[2][3] Harmful pollutants to the health and theenvironment include particulates (soot), hydrocarbons,carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, and various oxides ofnitrogen. Although not considered emission pollutantsby the original California Air Resources Board (CARB)or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defi-nitions, the most recent common use of the term alsoincludes volatile organic compounds, several air toxics(most notably butadiene), and global pollutants such ascarbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.[4] Examplesof zero emission vehicles include muscle-powered ve-hicles such as bicycles; gravity racers; battery electricvehicles, which typically shift emissions to the locationwhere the electricity is generated e.g. coal or natural gaspower plant;[5] and fuel cell vehicles powered by hydro-gen, which typically shift emissions to the location wherethe hydrogen is generated. Hydrogen-powered vehiclesare not strictly zero-emissions, as they do emit water orwater vapor, although they are still usually included in thiscategory. Emissions from the manufacturing process areignored in this definition, although more emissions arecreated during manufacture than during a vehicle’s oper-ating lifetime.[6][7]

1 Terminology

The Indian REVA electric car is a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV)sold in India, several European countries, Japan, Australia, andCosta Rica.

The Honda FCX Clarity launched in 2008 is a fuel cell hydrogenvehicle compliant with the ZEV standard and it is sold in Japanand in the U.S. (only in Los Angeles).

1.1 Well-to-wheel emissions

The term zero-emissions or ZEV, as originally coined bythe California Air Resources Board (CARB), refers onlyto tailpipe pollutants from the onboard source of power.

1

2 2 TYPES OF ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES

Therefore CARB’s definition is accounting only for pol-lutants emitted at the point of the vehicle operation, andthe clean air benefits are usually local because dependingon the source of the electricity used to recharge the bat-teries, air pollutant emissions are shifted to the locationof the electricity generation plants.[8]

In a similar manner, a zero-emissions vehicle does notemit greenhouse gases from the onboard source of powerat the point of operation, but a well-to-wheel assessmenttakes into account the carbon dioxide and other emis-sions produced during electricity generation, and there-fore, the extent of the real benefit depends on the fuel andtechnology used for electricity generation. From the per-spective of a full life cycle analysis, the electricity usedto recharge the batteries must be generated from renew-able or clean sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, ornuclear power for ZEVs to have almost none or zero well-to-wheel emissions.[8][9] On the other hand, if ZEVs arerecharged from electricity exclusively generated by coal-fired plants, they produce more greenhouse gas emissionsthan if not.[10]

Other countries have a different definition of ZEV, note-worthy the more recent inclusion of greenhouse gases, asmany European rules now regulate carbon dioxide CO2

emissions. CARB role in regulating greenhouse gases be-gan in 2004 based on the 2002 Pavley Act (AB 1493), butblocked by lawsuits and by EPA in 2007, by rejecting therequired waiver. Additional responsibilities were grantedto CARB by California’s Global Warming Solutions Actof 2006 (AB 32), which includes the mandate to set low-carbon fuel standards.[8]

As a result of an investigation into false advertising re-garding “zero-emissions” claims, the Advertising Stan-dards Authority (ASA) in the UK ruled in March 2010to ban an advertisement from Renault UK regardingits “zero-emissions vehicles” because the ad breachedCAP (Broadcast) TV Code rules 5.1.1, 5.1.2 (Mislead-ing advertising) and 5.2.1 (Misleading advertising- Evi-dence) and 5.2.6 (Misleading advertising-Environmentalclaims.)[11]

Greenhouse gasses and other pollutant emissions are gen-erated by vehicle manufacturing processes. The emis-sions from manufacture are many factors larger than theemissions from tailpipes, even in gasoline engine vehi-cles. Most reports on ZEV’s impact to the climate do nottake into account these manufacturing emissions.[6][7]

Considering the current U.S. energy mix, a ZEV

would produce a 30% reduction in carbon dioxideemissions.[12][13][14] Given the current energy mixes inother countries, it has been predicted that such emis-sions would decrease by 40% in the U.K.,[15] and 19%in China.[16]

2 Types of zero-emission vehicles

The Nissan Leaf electric car is a zero emission vehicle (ZEV) thatwas launched in the Japan and the U.S. in December 2010.

Ordinary bicycles, recumbent bicycles, and other deriva-tives as velomobiles, cabin cycles and freight bicycles areprobably the most well known zero-emissions transportsurface vehicles.Besides these human-powered vehicles, animal poweredvehicles and battery electric vehicles (which besides carsalso feature aircraft, electric boats, ...) also do not emitany of the above pollutants, nor any CO2 gases duringuse. Of course, this is a particularly important quality indensely populated areas, where the health of residents canbe severely affected. However, the production of the fu-els that power ZEVs, such as the production of hydrogenfrom fossil fuels, may produce more emissions per milethan the emissions produced from a conventional fossilfueled vehicle.[17] A well-to-wheel life cycle assessmentis necessary to understand the emissions implications as-sociated with operating a ZEV.Other zero emission vehicle technologies include plug-inhybrids (e.g. ICE/electric battery) when in electric mode,some plug-in hybrids in both recharging and electricmode (e.g. fuel cell/electric battery, compressed air en-gine/electric battery), liquid nitrogen vehicles, hydrogenvehicles (utilizing fuel cells or converted internal com-bustion engines), and compressed air vehicles typicallyrecharged by slow (home) or fast (road station) electric

3.2 Subsidies for development of electric cars 3

compressors, flywheel energy storage vehicles, solar pow-ered cars, and tribrids.Segway Personal Transporters are two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered machines that are eleventimes more energy-efficient than the average Americancar. Operating on two lithium-ion batteries, the SegwayPT produces zero emissions during operation, and uti-lizes a negligible amount of electricity while charging viaa standard wall outlet.[18]

Finally, especially for boats (although ground vessels op-erating on wind exist (using wind turbine and kite) andother watercraft, regular and special sails (as rotorsails,wing sails, turbo sails, skysails exist that can propel itemissionless. Also, for larger ships (as tankers, containervessels, ...), nuclear power is also used (though not com-monly).

2.1 Current vehicles in common publictransport

Electric trains, High-speed rail, subways, sail-poweredboats, trolleybuses, trams, electric buses, and cycle rick-shaws.

2.2 Current vehicles in common privatetransport

Electric cars, electric boats, sail-powered boats, bicycles,recumbent bicycles, velomobiles, cabin cycles, freight bi-cycles

3 Incentives

See also: Subsidies and tax incentives by country

3.1 Subsidies for public transport

Japanese public transport is being driven in the directionof zero emissions due to growing environmental concern.Honda has launched a conceptual bus which features ex-ercise machines to the rear of the vehicle to generatekinetic energy used for propulsion.

Due to the stop-start nature of idling in public transport,regenerative braking may be a possibility for public trans-port systems of the future. After all, public transportcosts councils money, so money well spent on saving fuelis money saved.

3.2 Subsidies for development of electriccars

In an attempt to curb carbon emissions as well as noisepollution in South African cities, the South African De-partment of Science & Technology (DST), as well asother private investments, have made US$5 million avail-able through the Innovation Fund for the development ofthe Joule. The Joule is a five seater car, planned to bereleased in 2014.[19]

4 See also

• Personal automated transport

• Future of the car

• Hybrid vehicle

• Low-carbon fuel standard

• Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent

• Partial zero-emissions vehicle

• Plug-in hybrid

• Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle

• Shweeb

• List of electric cars currently available

• Tesla Motors

• Coda Automotive

• Tier (emission standard)

• Low emission vehicle

• Solar rickshaw

• Ultra Low Emission Vehicle

• Who Killed the Electric Car?, a documentary

4 6 EXTERNAL LINKS

• Zero carbon city

• Zero emission

• ZENN (Zero Emission, No Noise)

• Optimal Energy Joule

• Hybrid Zero Emission Air-So., Vehicle

5 References[1] PRNewswire (2013-03-28). “And Now There Is One....

Tesla Model S Declared 2013 World Green Car”.International Business Times. Retrieved 2013-03-28.

[2] California Air Resources Board (2009-03-09). “Glossaryof Air Pollution Terms: ZEV”. Retrieved 2009-04-21.

[3] Christine & Scott Gable. “What is a ZEV - Zero Emis-sions Vehicle? extquotedbl. About.com: Hybrid Carts &Alt Fuels. Retrieved 2008-04-21.

[4] Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Cen-ter. “Alternative & Advanced Vehicles: Pollutants andHealth”. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, USDOE. Retrieved 2009-04-21.

[5] http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/map/

[6] http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2010/sep/23/carbon-footprint-new-car

[7] http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/news/39408

[8] Sperling, Daniel and Deborah Gordon (2009). Two bil-lion cars: driving toward sustainability. Oxford UniversityPress, New York. pp. 22 to 26. ISBN 978-0-19-537664-7.

[9] David B. Sandalow, ed. (2009). Plug-In Electric Vehicles:What Role for Washington? (1st. ed.). The BrookingsInstitution. pp. 2–5. ISBN 978-0-8157-0305-1.

[10] Palm, Erik (2009-05-01). “Study: Electric cars notas green as you think | Green Tech - CNET News”.News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2010-04-18.

[11] ASA Adjudication on Renault UK Ltd

[12] “Plug-in Hybrid Cars: Chart of CO2 Emissions Rankedby Power Source”. TreeHugger. Retrieved 2010-04-18.

[13] http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oiaf/1605/cdrom/pdf/e-supdoc.pdf

[14] “Electric Power Monthly -Table 1.1. Net Generation byEnergy Source”. Eia.doe.gov. Retrieved 2010-04-18.

[15] “Less CO2”. My Electric Car. Retrieved 2010-04-18.

[16] http://www.mckinsey.com/locations/greaterchina/mckonchina/pdfs/China_Charges_Up.pdf

[17] http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-03/miot-msh031003.php

[18] Whitepaper “The Role of the Segway PT in EmissionsReduction”

[19] http://www.optimalenergy.co.za

6 External links• Official California site on ZEVs and PZEVs

• 2006 Scientific American article - (dead link)

• CALSTART

• Reasons to buy an electric car in 2013

5

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