The Keck School of Medicine of USC recently conducted a study that has made a surprising discovery – electric vehicles (EVs) can improve public health. While the primary association with EVs is reducing emissions and fighting climate change, this study is one of the few that highlights the correlation between EVs and individuals’ health. The study took place in California, the largest market for EVs in the country.
The researchers analyzed various factors, including air pollution levels and asthma-related emergency room visits, and compared them with electric vehicle registrations between 2013 and 2019. The study found that as more people in a specific zip code purchased EVs, both emergency room visits and air pollution levels decreased.
See also: Winter Cost Comparison: EVs Still Cheaper Than ICE Vehicles, Study Shows
Erika Garcia, Ph.D., who was involved in the study, commented, “The idea that changes being made at the local level can improve the health of your community could be a powerful message to the public and policymakers.” The study revealed that for every 20 additional EVs per 1,000 people, there was a 3.2% reduction in asthma-related emergency room visits.
However, the study also uncovered that EV adoption was weaker in areas with lower levels of education attainment and in low-resource zip codes. This highlights that less affluent regions continue to be disproportionately affected by emissions and pollution-related illnesses. The high costs of EVs also remain a hindrance to ownership, especially in low-income areas.
Garcia notes that while EVs are beneficial to the climate as they do not emit any harmful pollutants, future studies must also consider other aspects of EV ownership, such as tire emissions, the impact of mining materials, and the disposal of older vehicles.
See also: Start-up BeyonCa to offer premium EV with health monitoring
In conclusion, the study has shown that EVs can benefit the health of the public, and it could lead to reduced healthcare expenditure. The research could also inspire further studies to address the various issues related to EV ownership, ensuring that communities overburdened with air pollution can fully benefit from this climate mitigation effort.
