Research in California: Every 200 electric vehicles helps reduce 1.1% NO2
According to Cleantechnica, a recent study published by scientists at the Keck School of Medicine of USC used data from a NO2 satellite - one of the most toxic traffic emissions - to assess the impact of electric vehicles on air quality in California, USA.
Analysis data from 1,692 residential areas across the state in the period 2019-2023 shows: As the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) increases, the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration measured from satellites decreases significantly. For every 200 zero-emission electric vehicles (including BEV, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles) added to each area, the average NO2 level decreases by about 1.1%.
NO2 is a typical emission from the process of burning fossil fuels and is known for its ability to cause respiratory problems such as asthma, pneumonia, as well as being associated with cardiovascular diseases and increasing the risk of hospitalization. Reducing NO2 levels is not only environmentally valuable but also practical for public health.
Notably, this is at least one of the first studies to use actual satellite observation data, rather than predictive models, to confirm that the increase in zero-emission vehicles actually leads to improved air quality in residential areas.
Reduce risks of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
An article from Cleantechnica also said that researchers have pointed out that cleaner air means reducing the burden of diseases related to environmental pollution, especially diseases related to the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system. NO2 has been proven to be the agent that triggers asthma attacks, bronchitis and worsens chronic cardiovascular diseases if exposed for a long time.
Reducing NO2 even by a few percent is of great significance to public health, because each percentage of this reduced air concentration is associated with: Reducing the number of cases of asthma and shortness of breath attacks in the population; Reducing emergency cases related to respiratory diseases; Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke; Reducing treatment costs and the burden of healthcare for society.
The research team intends to continue to analyze to see if NO2 reduction is directly related to the number of hospitalizations or emergency visits due to these diseases, which will further reinforce evidence for the health benefits of switching to electric vehicles.
Concretizing policies to limit gasoline vehicles and increase electric vehicles
In Vietnam, air pollution, especially in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is always a pressing issue. The main sources of pollution include emissions from transportation, industry and construction; in which road transport contributes significantly to NO2 and other toxic gases, directly affecting people's health.
Referring to the results from California can help policymakers and the community clearly realize: Increasing the rate of non-emission vehicles such as electric vehicles can bring practical benefits to air quality even when electricity is not yet 100% clean of source.
In Vietnam, a number of policies and orientations have been promoted by the government and functional agencies in recent times to support electric vehicles such as: Registration tax and import tax incentives for electric vehicles; Planning for the development of electric charging station infrastructure in major cities; Program to support the exchange of old internal combustion engine vehicles for electric vehicles; Initiatives related to emission reduction and improvement of urban air quality.
These policies are not only aimed at promoting the electric car industry but also towards reducing air pollution and protecting public health, especially in densely populated cities. In the context of rapidly developing transportation and increasing pollution, promoting electric vehicles associated with the roadmap to limit gasoline vehicles is a direction that is in line with global trends, and at the same time helps Vietnam get closer to the goal of sustainable transportation and a healthy living environment for generations.
