01624561

Component

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.

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

01618707

17-02181

English

19p

2017

Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

References; Tables

Climate change; Environmental policy; Evaluation and assessment; Greenhouse gases; Plug-in hybrid vehicles; Policy analysis

Canadian Provinces

Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Vehicles and Equipment

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2017 Paper #17-02181

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 8 2016 10:48AM