The Driven
1 Comment
Electric cars can save thousands in health costs, EVC report says
Posted on July 1, 20193 minute read Bridie Schmidt
Source: Pixabay
Billions of dollars in health costs could be saved if drivers in the wider Sydney region switched to electric cars, a new report issued by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has shown.
Health costs of transport-related illness account for as much as $3 billion in the Sydney-Newcastle-Wollongong area alone each year, according to the “Cleaner and Safer Roads for NSW” report, adding up to a $3,200 saving per vehicle if the switch was made to electric.
The report, which has been co-authored by the EVC and Asthma Australia with assistance from Doctors for the Environment Australia, also recommends that with transport-related illnesses such as lung and respiratory disease resulting in 60 per cent more deaths than road accidents, these should be added to the NSW road toll.
Approximately 650 people die in NSW each year from transport emissions-related illness, according to data from the Department of Environment and Conservation, and if these numbers were included in road toll numbers, funding to reduce those deaths could be better directed, says Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari.
Source: EVC
Source: EVC
“We’ve seen a lot of graphic road safety campaigns, but the deadliest part of a vehicle is actually its exhaust pipe,” said Jafari in a note by email.
“There are many good reasons for New South Wales to get behind a rapid transition to electric vehicles, but the most underrated is our health and safety.
“These are not abstractions. They are very real costs that are felt in very real ways. We can pump better health and more money back into the state by phasing out exhaust pipes and phasing in zero-emission vehicles.”
The emissions from ICE vehicles causing disease and death include carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOX) as well as particulate pollution and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Electric vehicle adoption could entirely remove CO and NOX coming from vehicles, while VOCs and PM10 particulate matter could be halved.
The report states that the most harmful emissions, PM2.5 particulate matter, could be reduced by almost two-thirds.
Source: EVC
Source: EVC
The call echoes previous statements from Doctors for the Environment as previously reported by The Driven following the release of another damning report issued by the World Health Organisation last year showing that 1 in 10 children died from emissions-related illness.
Children are particularly at risk, says Asthma Australia CEO Michele Goldman.
“Vehicle pollution is particularly significant when it comes to children’s asthma. Kids living within 75 metres of a major road have a 29 per cent increased risk of lifetime asthma,” Goldman said in a note by email.
“We often see schools built on main roads to increase accessibility, increasing exposure to asthma risk factors.
“People with asthma suffer from air pollution more than others because their airways are particularly sensitive. Indeed, anyone with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, lung disease, or cardiovascular disease is more susceptible. Such people have more frequent and more serious symptoms when exposed to air pollution.”
In addition to recommendations to include emissions-related deaths in the road toll, the report also shows that if all cars on NSW roads were electric, as many as 273 deaths could be prevented each year.
Source: EVC
Source: EVC
In addition to the significant health costs associated with transport-related disease and illness, the report also noted the social cost of noise pollution from internal combustion engine vehicles.
While the silent operation of electric vehicles presents its own risks (see our report on new EU legislation regarding this), it is estimated that in NSW, the social cost of noise pollution accounts from some $1.4 billion.
Bridie Schmidt
Bridie Schmidt
Bridie Schmidt is staff writer for The Driven, and Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, as well as using her technical skills in managing our websites.
Like
Tweet
Related Topics
Electric Vehicle CouncilemissionsEVCtransport emissionsvehicle emissions
Get the newsletter
I agree to the Terms of Use
Trending Posts
Source: Blue Cars 1
New Zealand battery module adds 45% range to Nissan Leaf
Posted on June 3, 2019
The Model Y shares 3/4 of its architecture with the Model 3. Source: Tesla 2
Take off your Tesla blinkers, the growth story is intact
Posted on June 3, 2019
Source: Chad Mortensen/Twitter 3
Spotted – Tesla “Raven” Model S with upgraded range, motors and suspension
Posted on June 26, 2019
An artist's rendering of the Tesla ute with huge pulling power. Credit: McHoffa/Ev Network 4
Musk says Tesla electric ute will be priced under $US50,000
Posted on June 3, 2019
The Driven Podcasts
FAQs
towing with ev
Towing a caravan with an electric car – can it be done?
Nissan Vehicle to Home (V2H) system (
We’re building a new house. What do we need for bidirectional EV charging?
electric car
How many solar panels do you need to cover your daily EV recharging?
What do I need to know as a first time electric car driver?
Get the newsletter
I agree to the Terms of Use
EV News
EV Models
Road Trips
Podcasts
FAQs
Press Releases
Source: BMW
BMW unveils new electric vehicles, says Europeans don’t want them
Posted on July 1, 20192 Comments
volta aero
Tesla Model 3 gets sporty makeover with cool Vorsteiner kit
Posted on July 1, 20192 Comments
Electric cars can save thousands in health costs, EVC report says
Posted on July 1, 20191 Comment
The Driven Podcasts
Connect With Us
The Driven
About
Get in Touch
Advertise
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Feedback
Electric Vehicle Insiders
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment