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March 15, 2010
Panel 1 - Electricity Sector Issues - 2:00-3:00pm
Panel 2 - Vehical Integration & Manufacturing Issues - 3:00-4:00pm
With more than 30 models of electric passenger vehicles slated to enter the market in the next two years, questions about how a transition to electric “fuel” would be managed and the full costs and benefits of such a transition need to be addressed. Some studies indicate electricity could displace a large amount of U.S. oil consumption without adding electric generation capacity. Given the current U.S. electricity profile, using electric fuel also generates significantly fewer greenhouse gases per mile than gasoline with potential for greater improvement as more electricity is produced from renewable sources. Moreover, while significant grid management issues would need to be addressed, electric vehicles could have substantial economic value for reducing peak loads for electric utilities, managing excess off-peak capacity, and enabling greater use of renewable energy.
On March 15, 2010, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing to examine the economic, energy security, and environmental implications of using electricity as a major transportation fuel. Widespread use of plug-in electric vehicles has the potential to simultaneously reduce U.S. oil dependence, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, while improving management of electricity demand and enhancing grid stability. Transitioning to electricity as a fuel, however, would require unprecedented integration of the transportation and electricity sectors. In addition, supply chains developed for an expanding U.S. electric transportation industry would potentially create high-value jobs and boost economic competitiveness, but would also raise issues regarding sources of critical materials. This briefing reviewed the potential advantages and disadvantages of using electricity as a transportation fuel and what policies may be needed to address these issues.