Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1961
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1961
25 Jul 2024
 | 25 Jul 2024

Impact of introducing electric vehicles on ground-level O3 and PM2.5 in the Greater Tokyo Area: Yearly trends and the importance of changes in the Urban Heat Island effect

Hiroo Hata, Norifumi Mizushima, and Tomohiko Ihara

Abstract. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are considered a solution for global warming and air pollution, and several countries have announced a shift to BEVs in the 2030s. This study is an evaluation of changes in the urban heat island (UHI) effect in the Greater Tokyo Area (GTA) of Japan as a result of introducing BEVs using numerical weather prediction. The results indicated that the substitution of internal combustion vehicles with BEVs led to a maximum decrease of 0.2 °C in the local temperature for the metropolitan GTA. Estimation of the effects of introducing BEVs on tropospheric ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) using a regional chemical transport model indicated that mitigating against the UHI effect led to a decline in the ground-level O3 formation due to decreased atmospheric chemical reactions and lower biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC). The decrease in vehicular exhaust emissions and increase in power plant emissions were nonlinear, and the total change in O3 depends on season and location. The temperature decrease that resulted from the mitigation of UHI resulted in enhanced particle coagulation, with an increase in ground-level PM2.5 formation in several regions. Furthermore, a decrease in the BVOC emissions also resulted in increased PM2.5 owing to enhancement of the OH + SO2 reaction. The total prevented annual premature deaths of 175 and 77 that resulted from the changes in O3 and PM2.5, respectively, indicate the positive effects of BEV introduction on air quality management in the GTA, and may be applicable to other megacities worldwide.

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Hiroo Hata, Norifumi Mizushima, and Tomohiko Ihara

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1961', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Aug 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Hiroo Hata, 16 Oct 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1961', Anonymous Referee #2, 28 Aug 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Hiroo Hata, 16 Oct 2024
Hiroo Hata, Norifumi Mizushima, and Tomohiko Ihara
Hiroo Hata, Norifumi Mizushima, and Tomohiko Ihara

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Short summary
The introduction of battery electric vehicles (BEV) is expected to reduce the primary air pollutants from vehicular exhaust and evaporative emissions while reducing the anthropogenic heat produced by vehicles, ultimately decreasing the urban heat island effect (UHI). This study revealed the impact of introducing BEVs on the decrease in UHI and the effects of BEVs on the formation of tropospheric ozone and fine particulate matter in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan.