POINT OF VIEW: GROUNDING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE DEBATE

This article comments on the electric vehicle debate. The comments deal in particular with a study by three distinguished researchers from Carnegie Mellon University claiming that "a 1998 model electric car is estimated to release 60 times more lead per kilometer of use relative to a comparable car burning leaded gasoline" and therefore that electric vehicles "don't deliver the promised environmental benefits". This article points out that a true advanced-technology electric vehicle was missing from their analysis, that the issue is not how much lead is mined and emitted but the extent to which humans are exposed to it, and that most investments by automobile makers in battery research and development, although negligible, already are devoted to advanced batteries. This article concludes that the findings of the Carnegie Mellon University researchers are flawed and inappropriately narrow to support their broad policy prescriptions.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trnews/trnews183-002.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07386826
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • SPERLING, D
• Publication Date: 1996-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: p. 21, 56
• Serial:
  • TR News
  • Issue Number: 183
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0738-6826
  • Serial URL: https://doi.org/10.17226/895

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric vehicles; Environmental impacts; Lead; Lead acid batteries; Technological innovations
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00722644
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-042 178
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 25 1996 12:00AM