California Air Resources Board

Principal Investigator/Author: Kanok Boriboonsomsin

Contractor: University of California, Riverside

Contract number: 23RD007

Project Status: Active

Relevant CARB programs: Advanced Clean Cars Program, Advanced Clean Fleets, California Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory Program, Mobile Source Emissions Inventory, Mobile Source Emissions Research Program, Potential Phased Advanced Clean Equipment (PACE) Regulation, Zero-Emission Vehicle Program

Topic areas: Air Pollution, Climate Change,  Freight & Goods Movement, On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Research, Zero-Emission Transportation

Research Summary:

The California Air Resources Board has developed, and continues to develop, programs to transition the State's vehicle fleets from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) to electric vehicles (EV). Despite the significant benefits, EV transition is associated with various challenges, such as the expected increase in electricity consumption that could potentially increase upstream carbon dioxide emissions and the heavier weight of EV compared to ICEV that could contribute to increased brake- and tire-wear if unmitigated. On the other hand, many existing and emerging technological advancements for EVs have the potential to help overcome these challenges.

This project aims to assess EV system and component technologies that are associated with either improving energy efficiency or reducing brake- and tire-wear for passenger cars, trucks, and off-road vehicles. The research team will consider technical feasibility, commercial availability (or if not yet commercially available, commercialization intent and development status), market acceptance or preference, current or projected market penetration, potential benefit of energy efficiency improvement or brake- and tire-wear reduction, and cost. First, they will gather existing data and information from literature reviews and communicating with subject matter experts or industry representatives. Then the researchers will analyze the gathered data and information, and synthesize the results, including developing empirical or computer simulation models to evaluate the energy efficiency improvement or brake- and tire-wear reduction of the technological advancements.

Project findings will inform a number of California policies and programs. These include greenhouse gas and criteria pollutants emissions inventory updates. These include current and future vehicle greenhouse gas regulations such as Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, Innovative Clean Transit, Zero-Emission Cargo Handling Equipment, and Off-Road Zero-Emission Targeted Manufacturer Rule. 

Keywords: electric vehicle, EV, electric vehicle technologies, energy efficiency, brake wear, tire wear, brake- and tire-, off-road vehicles, passenger cars, trucks, greenhouse gas emissions, emissions inventory, Advanced Clean Cars, Advanced Clean Trucks, zero-emission vehicle, ZEV