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Air quality and health impacts of large scale vehicle electrification in India

This webinar presented findings from a recent study estimating vehicle and power sector emissions, air quality, premature mortality, and avoided health damages in India under an ambitious electric vehicle (EV) sales scenario between 2020 and 2040, with and without robust power sector emission control and decarbonization strategies. It was conducted by researchers from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), and national and state level air quality values were generated using the WRF-Chem model, particularly focused on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration. The work is illustrative for policymakers in India and other regions who are considering promoting large-scale vehicle electrification while electricity grids remain largely powered by coal. Results show that widespread adoption of EVs with robust power plant emission controls and power sector decarbonization policies will yield net air quality and health benefits in every state in India in 2040, even under the conservative assumption that the additional power demand from EVs is met entirely by fossil fuel power plants.