Houston’s air quality could improve dramatically if people switched to electric vehicles – Houston Public Media

A study from the University of Houston shows that the mass adoption of electric vehicles will have a positive impact on air quality in America’s largest cities, including Houston.

High traffic volume is the reason New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston consistently fail to meet air quality standards. The UH study found that switching to electric vehicles in Houston could prevent 157 premature deaths each month. Dr. Ali Mousavinezhad co-authored the report.

“The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and create a sustainable mass transportation ecosystem,” he said.

Building such an infrastructure involves a public works operation not seen since the 1950s.

“The cost of such infrastructure construction can be considerable, involving billions of dollars of investment,” Mousavinezhad said. “That includes developing charging stations, modernizing the electricity grid, obviously, manufacturing electric vehicles and building new mass transit systems.”

The report states that the FullEV scenario could generate healthcare savings of $51 million to $249 million per day. But before people can understand the benefits of cleaner air, it will take time.

“The full implementation may vary, but it currently extends over perhaps 10 to 30 years,” Mousavinezhad said. “It mainly depends on locations and policies.”

Like Los Angeles, Houston has air quality issues of its own.

“Houston, like many cities with industrial activity, faces environmental challenges related to air quality, water quality and soil contamination,” explains Mousavinezhad. “And the petrochemical and refining industries are essential to the local economy, providing jobs and economic support to the community.

“However, due to emissions of pollutants like NOX and particulate matter, addressing these challenges involves working collaboratively with these industries to adopt cleaner technologies and practices, improve emissions controls and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. ”

It’s a tall order, but Mousavinezhad is convinced that clean air through the electrification of transportation and beyond is achievable.

“The goal is to balance economic benefits with environmental protection and ensure a healthy and sustainable future for all residents.”

Read the full report here.