Cost and Emissions Impacts of Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) on the Electric Power Grid

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have been promoted as a potential technology that can reduce vehicles fuel consumption, decreasing emissions related with the transportation sector and dependence from oil importations. Emissions and cost impacts of PHEVs are strictly connected with the power mix generation used to produce electricity and when their batteries are recharged. The aim of this work is to analyze potential effects of a PHEV fleet (at different market penetration levels) on the state of Ohio. The Ohio power grid was modeled focusing on two different charging scenarios, uncontrolled charging scenario - where vehicles are charged depending on drivers’ decisions, and a controlled scenario - where the grid administrator decides when to recharge PHEVs batteries. Results of this analysis show that PHEV could obtain a huge reduction in gasoline consumption - more than 70% in both scenarios; looking at the environmental impact, even with a great use of coal and heavy oil as generating fuels to produce electricity, PHEV could emit 24% less CO2 if charged in an uncontrolled way. It is worth nothing, however, that SO2 and NOx emissions would be increased by PHEV use. Results are clearly strongly dependent on the power mix of the electricity provider