California Air Resources Board

Principal Investigator/Author: Gil Tal

Contractor: University of California, Davis

Contract Number: 18RD027

Project Status: Completed

Relevant CARB Programs: Advanced Clean Cars, Advanced Clean Cars II, Clean Cars 4 All, Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, Zero-Emission Vehicle Program

Topic Areas: Light-Duty Vehicles, Advanced Technology & Low Carbon Transit, Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), Sustainable Communities, Research & Sustainable Communities, Transit

Research Summary:

In order to help meet California’s air quality and climate goals, Executive Order B-48-18 set a goal for the State to have five million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road by 2030. In addition, the executive order also set a goal of having 250,000 chargers installed, including 10,000 direct current fast chargers by 2025. At the same time, ZEVs and refueling infrastructure are maturing and continuing to improve with more affordable and longer-range PEVs and faster recharging capabilities. New mobility services, such as ride-hailing, are also increasing rapidly in adoption and can potentially significantly increase the number of vehicle miles traveled. Because of this, Senate Bill 1014 mandates that CARB and the California Public Utility Commission develop the “California Clean Miles Standard and Incentive Program” partly to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles used by ride-hailing companies. Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) used for ride-hailing have different charging needs than those used by households. Finally, three technologies—electric-drive, information (including sensing), and computing technologies—may be combined with vehicle technology more generally to produce systems of electric-powered, shared, automated vehicles. This prospect, characterized as “three revolutions” (3R), has the potential to transform our transportation system and society at large. This transition is beginning, as California has finally permitted an automated vehicle company to operate within the state without a driver.

The objective of this study is to synthesize research findings with respect to California’s increasing electrification of its light-duty vehicle transportation sector, as well as its transformation toward new mobility services.  In particular, the first white paper will focus on the changing infrastructure needs as PEVs become more widely adopted by individuals as well as transportation network company (TNC) drivers, and as the vehicle and charging technology improve. This white paper will analyze the different charging profiles of ride-hailing drivers, such as those of Uber and Lyft, compared to individual drivers, coupled with modeling to optimize this behavior to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the upstream electricity generation. The second white paper will focus on identifying the first users of electrified, shared, and automated vehicles, exploring the exciting knowledge and gaps in the field.  This white paper will create a research-based framework to guide policy making, system design, and future research grounded on understanding how these first users see their futures and the future of transportation.

Keywords: climate, air quality, zero emission vehicle (ZEVs), chargers, light duty vehicle, electrification, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), ride-hailing, greenhouse gas emissions

Final Report: Please email research@arb.ca.gov to request the Final Report generated by this research contract.