Integrated Framework For Distributional Impacts of Technology, Fuel and System Decisions in Transportation

The transportation sector currently accounts for close to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S and nearly 15% globally, making it a crucial sector for addressing climate change. Furthermore, tailpipe emissions from transportation are a leading contributor to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), which is associated with large health and environmental damages. To date, little attention has been devoted to understanding the distributional impacts of technology, fuel and system decisions. We provide an integrated assessment framework that will be applied to study the health, environmental and climate change effects of transportation strategies using an environmental justice lens, with a focus on the U.S., China and India. We combine life-cycle analysis, engineering simulation (of both transportation technologies and the power sector), and social sciences models to compute the net, life-cycle health, environmental and climate change monetized damages associated with different transportation strategies. Specific technologies we will assess include gasoline and diesel, ethanol, different types of electrified vehicles (hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles), fuel cell vehicles, and natural gas-powered vehicles. We use an environmental justice framework to understand the distributional consequences of different transportation pathways by geography, income, and race and for several indicators of distributional effects. Finally, we will develop a set of policy recommendations based on the lessons learned from the analysis.