Abstract
This paper discusses a scenario in which it is assumed that 30% of the traffic volume of passenger cars, vans and buses is based on electric vehicles in Helsinki in 2020. The assessment takes into account the reduction in vehicle emissions and the increase in emissions of electricity production required by electric vehicles. Environmental benefits related to health effects and soiling are calculated within the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Impacts on forests and crops are calculated in Finland and climate impacts globally.
The environmental costs of traffic exhaust gases in the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario are expected to total approx. EUR 27 million in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area in 2020. Morbidity accounts for approx. EUR 5.2 million and mortality (i.e. years of life lost) approx. EUR 19.5 million. The global climate impacts of emissions amount to about EUR 1.8 million based on rather low marginal cost of CO2 of EUR 2.4 /t in this assessment.
It is assumed that the additional electricity would either be produced at the Vuosaari B, a gas-fired CHP power plant in Helsinki, or be based on Finnish average electricity production from various sources, or on coal-fired condensing power production. With regard to avoided health effects, Vuosaari B is the best electricity production alternative although as a whole the average electricity production is a somewhat better solution due to lower climate impacts. The lowest environmental benefits are achieved by power production based on coal.
Electricity production included, the environmental benefits of the EV scenario in comparison with the BAU scenario for 2020 are expected to total approx. EUR 2.2-2.5 million in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area in 2020. The greatest environmental benefits are achieved by the reduction in local health effects. It should be noted that the environmental costs of electric vehicles as such vary significantly depending on the mode of electricity production.