Healthy Cities through Technology: Impact of zero-emission vehicles on air quality and human health

The George Washington University, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) Kaitlin Slimak, Konstantinos Oikonomou, Chetan Gaonkar
We seek to test the hypothesis that the adoption and usage of low emission vehicles positively influences both the air quality and hence human health in urban environments. This correlation will impact: urban planning transportation and environmental policy electrification of the transportation sector
CO2 DISPERSION FOR NIH COGENERATION FACILITY

DISPERSION CO-EFFICIENT

GROUND PLUME LEVEL CONCENTRATION

The important metrological factors which affect the dispersion of a pollutant are the average wind speed at the source level at stack height, cloud cover, and ambient temperature. Using data from the Washington Dulles International Airport and the Ronald Reagan National Airport, the wind speed at the stack height may be calculated. Power Law Velocity Equation

The Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has developed projections for their Maryland service territory [1], which was used to establish predictions for Washington, D.C. This data is correlated with information provided by the DOT Office of Highway Statistics [2] to calculate the total number of vehicles present through 2040.

Since about 2010 more people live in urban vs. rural areas [3].

APPROACH
Downtown Bellevue Network. June 2010. <http://downtown bellevue.com/2010/06/24/city-bellevue-prepares-electric-vehicles/>.

A survey was distributed to residents of D.C. in order to assess charging habits and build a foundation for our charging scenarios. EnergyPlus is used to model grid capabilities.
WASHINGTON DC SURVEY RESULTS
3 30% Penetration 2.5 50% Penetration Power [MW] 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 5 10 15 Time [Hours] 20 25 30 80% Penetration Base Load

Nissan Leaf + IEEE 34 Feeder Load, Lv 1 Controlled charging, 15k mi annual driving

Develop load simulations for different charging scenarios. This allows us to determine if electric vehicle projections are feasible. Create dispersion models for all PEPCO power plants and for each pollutant, including effects of changing fuel mixes through 2040 Correlate health impacts (risk of illness, disease, cancer) with pollutant inhalation Consideration of resident versus commuter driving patterns
Example simulation using the EPAs airborne diffusion simulation software will be used to model the air quality changes in the metropolitan

RR = relevant risk of disease due to inhalation of pollutant X = pollutant concentration, (g/m3) X0 = background concentration in D.C. = lung cancer coefficient, ex. [PM2.5] = 0.2322

Erdal, Serap. Chapter 7: Risk Assessment Methodology for Conventional and Alternative Sustainability Options. Sustainability: A Comprehensive Foundation, June 2011, Version 1.43, pp 294-299.

[1] Stewart, Rob. A Discussion on Electric Vehicle Charging. U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. 2011. [2] Highway Statistics Series. Office Highway Policy Information. <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm>. [3] United Nations, Dpt. of Economic and Social Affairs, Population division. 2011. [4] Gaussian Plume Model by Prof. Allen and Durrenberger [5] Bruno Sportisse Air Pollution Modelling and Simulation University Pierre and Marie Curie, 2007 [6] Despina Deligiorgi, Kostas Philippopoulos, George Karvounis and Magdalini Tzanakou. Identification of pollution dispersion patterns in complex terrain using AERMOD modeling system, International Journal of Energy and Environment, 2009 [7] Power Plant Information. http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/documents/egridzips/eGRID2012V1_0_year09_SummaryTables.pdf [8] Arvind Balaji J and Muralidharan M , Gaussian Plume Air Dispersion Model for Pointe Source Emission, Anna University , 2005