PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
Date: July 18, 2013
Contact: Suzanne Pletcher (303) 447-0078 EXT. 5; (707) 489-1325 cell
spletcher@swenergy.org
For Some Southwest States, Electricity is the Cleanest Vehicle Fuel
DENVER, CO — In Arizona, Colorado and Nevada, electric vehicles offer the cleanest ride, while in
New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming that’s not necessarily the case.
That’s the finding of a report for policymakers issued today by the Southwest Energy Efficiency
Project (SWEEP), Transportation Fuels for the Southwest. The report’s analysis compared the
“wells to wheels” energy use and air pollution emitted by vehicles fueled by gasoline, compressed
natural gas and electricity in order to determine which fuel is cleanest in each of the six
southwestern states.
“Electric vehicles are becoming more common on roads in the Southwest, and policymakers
need to know if they are cleaner than conventional gasoline and natural gas-fueled vehicles,” said
author Mike Salisbury, transportation research associate at SWEEP. “The analysis clearly shows
that, in states where electricity is produced by a higher ratio of clean fuels like renewables and
natural gas, electric cars are the way to go.”
EVs offer the biggest clean-air benefits in Arizona, followed by Nevada and Colorado (see chart
below), states where coal is or will become less prevalent for electricity generation.
The results are not so clear in New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, where—because coal remains
the primary source of electricity generation—CNG vehicles retain some advantages.
“In coal states, policies to shift electricity generation to natural gas and renewables should
accompany policies to increase the use of EVs,” said Will Toor, co-author of the new report and
transportation director at SWEEP. “And citizens could be encouraged to acquire EVs and home
solar systems together so that the cars are charged by electricity with low levels of greenhouse gas
emissions.”
Policymakers in all of the southwestern states are considering EVs as part of an overall
strategy to reduce urban air pollution and improve public health. The cars may help states meet the
new ground-level ozone standard expected from the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as
future standards pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions.
“Even in states with dirty electricity, EVs can be an important tool to clean up urban air
pollution,” said Toor. He noted that SWEEP analyzed the air quality impacts of EVs in urban areas
of Utah and concluded that there are significant air quality benefits to greater use of the cars in the
Salt Lake City basin, where high smog levels are related to tailpipe emissions.
Currently, most major automobile manufacturers offer EVs in a variety of models to appeal
to buyers in every price range. In addition to federal tax credits, Colorado and Utah offer state tax
credits that help reduce the cost of the cars to that of conventional gas-powered models.
Summary Chart: Cleanest Vehicle Option by Pollutant and State
Parameter
New vehicles in 2013
2013 vehicles in 2020
New vehicles in 2020
ARIZONA
Energy consumption
EV
EV
EV
GHG
EV
EV
EV
NOx
CNG
EV
EV
VOC
EV
EV
EV
EV
EV
EV
GHG
CNG
EV
EV
NOx
CNG
EV
EV
VOC
EV
EV
EV
COLORADO
Energy consumption
NEVADA
Energy consumption
EV
EV
EV
GHG
EV
EV
EV
NOx
CNG
EV
CNG
VOC
EV
EV
EV
EV
EV
CNG
GHG
CNG
EV
CNG
NOx
CNG
EV
CNG
VOC
EV
EV
EV
EV
EV
CNG
GHG
CNG
CNG
CNG
NOx
CNG
EV
CNG
VOC
EV
EV
EV
EV
EV
CNG
GHG
CNG
CNG
CNG
NOx
CNG
EV
EV
VOC
EV
EV
EV
NEW MEXICO
Energy consumption
UTAH
Energy consumption
WYOMING
Energy consumption
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project is a public interest organization that advances
energy efficiency policy in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. ##
CONTACTS:
Mike Salisbury, SWEEP transportation research associate, report lead author: (720) 628-5596
Will Toor, SWEEP transportation program director and report co-author: (303) 447-0078 ext. 6