Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehicles

Abstract As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to accelerate, we explore the implications of different adoption trajectories that achieve a full transition to EVs by 2050 for U.S. light-duty passenger vehicles (LDVs). Using a vetted transportation system model, we find that achieving 100% EV s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matteo Muratori, Catherine Ledna, Paige Jadun, Chris Hoehne, Arthur Yip, Kara Podkaminer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44333-025-00052-6
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to accelerate, we explore the implications of different adoption trajectories that achieve a full transition to EVs by 2050 for U.S. light-duty passenger vehicles (LDVs). Using a vetted transportation system model, we find that achieving 100% EV sales by 2040 would decrease tailpipe greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 90% between 2022 and 2050, leaving about 45 million gasoline vehicles on the road. Achieving 100% sales by 2035, tailpipe emissions decrease 93%, with about 28 million gasoline vehicles on the road in 2050 (9% of stock). Slower EV adoption, reaching 100% sales by 2045, would result in 69 million gasoline vehicles on the road in 2050. Fully electrifying passenger vehicles by 2050 would require a full transition to EVs sales in the 2030s coupled with either changes to mobility, or an accelerated stock turnover in the 2040s with additional 19–30% annual LDV sales.
ISSN:3004-8664