Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities?
The Arctic presents various challenges for a transition to electric vehicles compared to other regions of the world, including environmental conditions such as colder temperatures, differences in infrastructure, and cultural and economic factors. For this study, academic researchers partnered with t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | World Electric Vehicle Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/3/128 |
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| author | Michelle Wilber Jennifer I. Schmidt Tobias Schwoerer Tim Bodony Matt Bergan Joseph Groves Tom Atkinson Leif Albertson |
| author_facet | Michelle Wilber Jennifer I. Schmidt Tobias Schwoerer Tim Bodony Matt Bergan Joseph Groves Tom Atkinson Leif Albertson |
| author_sort | Michelle Wilber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Arctic presents various challenges for a transition to electric vehicles compared to other regions of the world, including environmental conditions such as colder temperatures, differences in infrastructure, and cultural and economic factors. For this study, academic researchers partnered with three rural communities: Kotzebue, Galena, and Bethel, Alaska, USA. The study followed a co-production process that actively involved community partners to identify 21 typical vehicle use cases that were then empirically modeled to determine changes in fueling costs and greenhouse gas emissions related to a switch from an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle. While most use cases showed decreases in fueling costs and climate emissions from a transition to electric versions of the vehicles, some common use profiles did not. Specifically, the short distances of typical commutes, when combined with low idling and engine block heater use, led to an increase in both fueling costs and emissions. Arctic communities likely need public investment and additional innovation in incentives, vehicle types, and power systems to fully and equitably participate in the transition to electrified transportation. More research on electric vehicle integration, user behavior, and energy demand at the community level is needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9653179f0e05442783b07cbdd7aeed21 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2032-6653 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World Electric Vehicle Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-9653179f0e05442783b07cbdd7aeed212025-08-20T03:43:58ZengMDPI AGWorld Electric Vehicle Journal2032-66532025-02-0116312810.3390/wevj16030128Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities?Michelle Wilber0Jennifer I. Schmidt1Tobias Schwoerer2Tim Bodony3Matt Bergan4Joseph Groves5Tom Atkinson6Leif Albertson7Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USAInstitute for Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 99508, USAInternational Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USAInstitute for Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 99508, USAKotzebue Electric Association, Kotzebue, AK 99752, USAAlaska Technical Center, Kotzebue, AK 99752, USAKotzebue Electric Association, Kotzebue, AK 99752, USACollege of Rural and Community Development, Kuskokwim Campus, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bethel, AK 99559, USAThe Arctic presents various challenges for a transition to electric vehicles compared to other regions of the world, including environmental conditions such as colder temperatures, differences in infrastructure, and cultural and economic factors. For this study, academic researchers partnered with three rural communities: Kotzebue, Galena, and Bethel, Alaska, USA. The study followed a co-production process that actively involved community partners to identify 21 typical vehicle use cases that were then empirically modeled to determine changes in fueling costs and greenhouse gas emissions related to a switch from an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle. While most use cases showed decreases in fueling costs and climate emissions from a transition to electric versions of the vehicles, some common use profiles did not. Specifically, the short distances of typical commutes, when combined with low idling and engine block heater use, led to an increase in both fueling costs and emissions. Arctic communities likely need public investment and additional innovation in incentives, vehicle types, and power systems to fully and equitably participate in the transition to electrified transportation. More research on electric vehicle integration, user behavior, and energy demand at the community level is needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/3/128Arcticcostelectric vehiclesemissionsenergy transitionsisolated microgrids |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Wilber Jennifer I. Schmidt Tobias Schwoerer Tim Bodony Matt Bergan Joseph Groves Tom Atkinson Leif Albertson Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities? World Electric Vehicle Journal Arctic cost electric vehicles emissions energy transitions isolated microgrids |
| title | Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities? |
| title_full | Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities? |
| title_fullStr | Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities? |
| title_short | Are Electric Vehicles a Solution for Arctic Isolated Microgrid Communities? |
| title_sort | are electric vehicles a solution for arctic isolated microgrid communities |
| topic | Arctic cost electric vehicles emissions energy transitions isolated microgrids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/3/128 |
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