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Adoption of electric vehicles could benefit thousands of lives, save billions of dollars

August 15, 2020

Researchers from Northwestern University have been investigating the effects of electric vehicles (EVs) on the United States economy and population.

Daniel Horton

Professor Daniel Horton

The research team found that if EVs replaced 25% of combustion-engine cars currently on the road, the United States would save roughly $17 billion per year by evading setbacks from climate change and air pollution. In possible extreme scenarios — replacing 75% of cars with EVs and increasing renewable energy generation — savings could be up to $70 billion annually.

Northwestern’s Professor Daniel Horton, senior author of the study, states,

“From an engineering and technological standpoint, people have been developing solutions to climate change for years. But we need to rigorously assess these solutions. This study presents a nuanced look at EVs and energy generation and found that EV adoption not only reduces greenhouse gases but saves lives.”

Learn more about electric cars and their effect on the planet in the Northwestern Now article: Widespread electric vehicle adoption would save billions of dollars, thousands of lives.

Faculty / In the Media / Research / Society & Policy / Daniel Horton / Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences / Media Coverage

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