New Report Shows Significant Health, Economic, and Environmental Benefits of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Electrification
New Jersey can eliminate toxic transportation pollutants from overburdened communities
Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey can eliminate the tailpipe air pollution that sickens our state’s most vulnerable populations, especially those in urban areas and communities located near highways and ports. Technology exists today that can replace dirty diesel trucks with battery operated trucks and costs continue to drop.
This and more is detailed in a study released today by ChargEVC. Jersey City’s Mayor, Steven Fulop, one of the first Mayor’s in the State to embrace this opportunity, explains why he has aggressively pursued this opportunity. “From becoming the first on the East Coast to implement electric garbage trucks, to adding charging stations for public and municipal use, to enacting policy for transitioning our municipal fleet to 100% electric by 2030, we are outpacing the state and serving as a model to other municipalities by establishing the necessary infrastructure for clean transportation,” said Mayor Fulop. “We all play a significant role in the battle against climate change and replacing our municipal fleet with zero-emission vehicles plays a vital role in improving air quality citywide, and furthermore, encourages residents and drivers to follow suit.”
The study, titled Full Market Vehicle Electrification in New Jersey is a comprehensive market-wide analysis with a number of high-impact findings. First and foremost, net benefits exceed costs by up to a factor of four, resulting in billions of dollars in savings as the transportation sector electrifies. These benefits accrue to many residents of New Jersey and include lower vehicle operating costs, reductions in greenhouse gases and other health impacting pollutants, and downward pressure on electricity rates for all ratepayers. This study quantifies dramatic improvements in air quality in our urban areas and along the travel corridors that result from the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Mark Warner, VP at Gabel Associates and lead author of the study explains, “Accelerating electrification of these diesel segments is a primary strategy for improving public health, especially in some of New Jersey’s most overburdened communities. Some of these diesel segments have electric alternatives available today, and others are expected soon.” Mr. Warner continues, “We’ve found that electrification in these diesel segments can happen faster than previously expected.”
With these results in hand, the hard work begins. “We must work smarter, do more, and move faster together with our state partners. We have the technology and we have resources to start through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and VW settlement funds. It simply can’t continue to be business as usual for those that have suffered for generations from toxic air,” Pam Frank, CEO of ChargEVC continues, “And in the midst of a pandemic, the economic stimulus that will make New Jersey the east coast leader on transportation electrification is needed now more than ever.”
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ChargEVC is a not-for-profit coalition of diverse stakeholders that includes retail automotive dealers, utilities, consumer and equity advocates, environmental and labor organizations and technology companies. See www.chargevc.org for more information.