Evaluating Plug-in Electric Vehicle Policies in the Context of Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals: Comparing 10 Canadian Provinces Using the "PEV Policy Report Card"

Amidst the current “hype” surrounding plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), many countries and regions are enacting various PEV-supportive policies in an ad-hoc manner, without clear goals or processes for their evaluation. In this paper, the authors develop an evaluation framework for policymakers to estimate the likely effect of a package of PEV-related policies against one goal: PEVs capturing at least 40% of new passenger vehicle market share (in line with achieving deep greenhouse gas reductions, e.g. 80% cuts by 2050). This framework is intentionally simplistic, leaving evaluations of cost-effectiveness, equity and political acceptability to a separate analysis. The authors develop simple methods to translate different policy types (e.g. demand-focused and supply-focused) into likely market share “points” based on stringency and duration. The authors assign an “A” to a region that has a PEV-related policy package in place that is on track to meet the assumed 2040 goal, whereas a “B”, “C”, “D” or “F” is assigned to regions with less effective policies. The authors apply their framework to Canada’s 10 provinces, which vary widely in terms of PEV policy implementation. Seven provinces have enacted little or no effective policies and are assigned an “F”. Three provinces demonstrate substantially greater policy effort (British Columbia, Ontario and Québec), though only one is on track to achieve a “B-minus” grade if presently announced policies are implemented (Québec). The authors' framework provides an accessible tool for policymakers to assess the effectiveness of different PEV-related policy packages, and the authors' application identifies uncertainties that can be better understood through further research.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC70 Standing Committee on Transportation Energy. Alternate title: Evaluating Plug-in Electric Vehicle Policies in the Context of Long-Term Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals: Comparing 10 Canadian Provinces Using PEV Policy Report Card
  • Corporate Authors:

    Transportation Research Board

    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Authors:
    • Melton, Noel
    • Axsen, Jonn
    • Goldberg, Suzanne
  • Conference:
  • Date: 2017

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 19p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01624561
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 17-02181
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jan 30 2017 4:14PM