Professor Daniel Horton discusses economic and health benefits of electric cars

Since Americans were traveling less frequently during the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions decreased by more than 10% in 2020.

For Professor Daniel Horton, of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, this decrease was unsurprising, as he said the transportation sector is the number one source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in America.

Horton studies electric cars’ impact on air pollution using atmospheric chemistry, emissions data, and meteorology. His research group has found that electric vehicles have the potential to massively benefit society by saving billions of dollars and preventing thousands of premature deaths.

For instance, Horton’s group found that if electric cars replaced 25% of the combustion engine vehicles currently on the road, the U.S. would save $17 billion annually by avoiding damage from climate change and air pollution. If as many as 75% of combustion engine vehicles were replaced, savings could climb to more than $70 billion a year.

Though electric cars remain out of budget for many Americans, Horton said that automakers’ commitment to producing electric models will ultimately make widespread adoption possible.

“We need systemic change,” said Horton, who added that he felt optimistic about Joe Biden’s presidency. Biden has signed multiple executive actions focused on climate change and air quality, including a commitment to buy only zero-emission vehicles for use by the federal government.

“These commitments are no-brainers,” Horton said. “Study upon study has demonstrated that the switch to electric vehicles will reduce greenhouse emissions. My group’s research also has shown that the switch to electric vehicles will reduce harmful air pollutants, lowering the public health burden attributable to transportation emissions. By embracing electric vehicle technology, the Biden administration gives us hope.”

Read more about the effects of air pollution in Northwestern Magazine.