Skip to main content

Plug-in electric vehicles: challenges and opportunities in the US

A new paper from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy indicates that large-scale introduction of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) into the light-duty fleet would substantially reduce U.S. oil consumption. It could also deliver important environmental benefits- specifically reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants, but these benefits will vary with the source of the electricity used to charge the PEVs. A wealth of policies and programs are in place to support PEV adopt
July 25, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A new paper from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy indicates that large-scale introduction of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) into the light-duty fleet would substantially reduce U.S. oil consumption. It could also deliver important environmental benefits- specifically reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants, but these benefits will vary with the source of the electricity used to charge the PEVs.

A wealth of policies and programs are in place to support PEV adoption, including federal, state, and local government measures; activities in the private sector; and activities undertaken by utilities and utility regulators to prepare for and promote PEV adoption. However, while a great number and variety of PEV policies are in place, these policies are not yet sufficiently comprehensive or coordinated to achieve widespread adoption of PEVs in the immediate future.

This report discusses the challenges facing widespread adoption of PEVs from both transportation and utility sector perspectives. It explains the importance of addressing those challenges and presents recommendations to achieve that end.

Related Content

  • AlphaStruxure to provide e-bus microgrid
    May 24, 2021
    Energy as a Service project aims to cut emissions in Montgomery County, Maryland
  • Global ITS market expected to reach US$ 30.2 billion by 2019
    October 3, 2013
    According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research, "Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019," the global market for ITS is expected to reach a value of USD 30.2 billion by 2019, at a CAGR of 11.1 per cent from 2013 to 2019. The demand for ITS systems is rising globally due to increased congestion in metropolitan areas. Development and deployment of intelligent transportation system not only r
  • Making cars safer for vulnerable road users
    June 2, 2016
    Richard Cuerden considers measures to improve the safety of vulnerable road users. The competitive nature of the car market has seen an increase in protection for those travelling inside the vehicle and this is reflected in the casualty statistics -but the same does not apply to those outside the vehicle. And with current societal trends such as ageing populations, an increasing number of pedestrians and cyclists encouraged by environmental policies, this is an area that authorities such as the European Uni
  • Autonomous vehicles will not prevent half of real-world crashes
    April 5, 2017
    Alan Thomas of CAVT looks at the reality behind the safety claims fuelling the drive towards autonomous vehicles