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...

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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
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author Matteo Muratori
Catherine Ledna
Paige Jadun
Chris Hoehne
Arthur Yip
Kara Podkaminer
author_facet Matteo Muratori
Catherine Ledna
Paige Jadun
Chris Hoehne
Arthur Yip
Kara Podkaminer
author_sort Matteo Muratori
collection DOAJ
description 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.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 3004-8664
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport
spelling doaj-art-6d85e85a06dc4c558173111fe51697f82025-08-20T03:06:05ZengNature Portfolionpj Sustainable Mobility and Transport3004-86642025-07-012111110.1038/s44333-025-00052-6Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehiclesMatteo Muratori0Catherine Ledna1Paige Jadun2Chris Hoehne3Arthur Yip4Kara Podkaminer5National Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryU.S. Department of EnergyAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44333-025-00052-6
spellingShingle Matteo Muratori
Catherine Ledna
Paige Jadun
Chris Hoehne
Arthur Yip
Kara Podkaminer
Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehicles
npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport
title Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehicles
title_full Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehicles
title_fullStr Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehicles
title_full_unstemmed Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehicles
title_short Electrification pathways for U.S. passenger vehicles
title_sort electrification pathways for u s passenger vehicles
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44333-025-00052-6
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AT catherineledna electrificationpathwaysforuspassengervehicles
AT paigejadun electrificationpathwaysforuspassengervehicles
AT chrishoehne electrificationpathwaysforuspassengervehicles
AT arthuryip electrificationpathwaysforuspassengervehicles
AT karapodkaminer electrificationpathwaysforuspassengervehicles