Electric vehicle transformation in Beijing and the comparative eco-environmental impacts: A case study of electric and gasoline powered taxis

Our results indicated that in light of the full life cycle assessment, electric vehicles could play significant role in decreasing the potential of Global Warming, Abiotic Depletion and Ozone Layer Depletion; whereas, electric vehicles also exhibited the impacts for increases in the potential of Acidification, Eutrophication, Human Toxicity and Eco-toxicity (marine aquatic and terrestrial). On the basis of inventory data analysis and 2010 Beijing electricity mix, the comparative results of haze-induced pollutants emissions showed that the full life cycle emission of VOCs from a Midi electric vehicle was lower than a Hyundai gasoline vehicle, but the emissions of PM2.5, NOx, SOx of a Midi electric vehicle were higher than a Hyundai gasoline vehicle. These differences are mainly the result of different emissions during the use stages. In addition, the results of sensitivity analysis indicated that the decreased rate of Green House Gas per kilometer (Midi relative to Hyundai) gradually improved with the increase of lifetime and use of cleaner energy; haze-induced pollutants and carbon emissions from EVs could be reduced significantly with the increased use of cleaner energy.