Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations
The global shift to electric vehicles necessitates the expansion of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations, yet the related environmental and public health impacts remain unclear. Here, we report that the power cabinet at DCFC stations emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We collected integra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003320 |
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| author | Yuan Yao Muchuan Niu Haoxuan Chen Qiao Yu Qingyang Wu Yuhang Li Yijie Zhang Aydogan Ozcan Michael Jerrett Yifang Zhu |
| author_facet | Yuan Yao Muchuan Niu Haoxuan Chen Qiao Yu Qingyang Wu Yuhang Li Yijie Zhang Aydogan Ozcan Michael Jerrett Yifang Zhu |
| author_sort | Yuan Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global shift to electric vehicles necessitates the expansion of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations, yet the related environmental and public health impacts remain unclear. Here, we report that the power cabinet at DCFC stations emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We collected integrated filter samples from 50 DCFC stations across 47 cities in Los Angeles County, California. The daily PM2.5 concentrations were between 7.3 and 39.0 µg m−3, significantly higher than urban background sites (p = 0.02) and the nearest U.S. EPA monitoring stations (p < 0.0001). To understand the emission mechanism of these particles, we measured real-time PM2.5 mass concentration, particle size distribution, and other pollutants, as well as characterized particle chemical compositions on integrated filter samples. Our results indicate that these particles, primarily in the sub-micrometer range (0.5–1.0 µm), are likely due to particle resuspension from the power cabinets. PM2.5 samples from power cabinets showed higher levels of brake and tire wear tracers (Ba, Cu, Zn) and dust tracers (Ca, Al, Fe) compared to samples from nearby chargers and background sites. With no current emission standards for DCFC, managing particle resuspension is crucial for improving air quality and protecting public health as transportation electrification advances. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-97ef002f090944c5915d6f52cfb05c5f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-97ef002f090944c5915d6f52cfb05c5f2025-08-20T03:21:59ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-07-0120110958110.1016/j.envint.2025.109581Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stationsYuan Yao0Muchuan Niu1Haoxuan Chen2Qiao Yu3Qingyang Wu4Yuhang Li5Yijie Zhang6Aydogan Ozcan7Michael Jerrett8Yifang Zhu9Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USAElectrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Institute of Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.The global shift to electric vehicles necessitates the expansion of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations, yet the related environmental and public health impacts remain unclear. Here, we report that the power cabinet at DCFC stations emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We collected integrated filter samples from 50 DCFC stations across 47 cities in Los Angeles County, California. The daily PM2.5 concentrations were between 7.3 and 39.0 µg m−3, significantly higher than urban background sites (p = 0.02) and the nearest U.S. EPA monitoring stations (p < 0.0001). To understand the emission mechanism of these particles, we measured real-time PM2.5 mass concentration, particle size distribution, and other pollutants, as well as characterized particle chemical compositions on integrated filter samples. Our results indicate that these particles, primarily in the sub-micrometer range (0.5–1.0 µm), are likely due to particle resuspension from the power cabinets. PM2.5 samples from power cabinets showed higher levels of brake and tire wear tracers (Ba, Cu, Zn) and dust tracers (Ca, Al, Fe) compared to samples from nearby chargers and background sites. With no current emission standards for DCFC, managing particle resuspension is crucial for improving air quality and protecting public health as transportation electrification advances.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003320Electric vehiclesDCFCAir qualityPM2.5 emissionParticle resuspension |
| spellingShingle | Yuan Yao Muchuan Niu Haoxuan Chen Qiao Yu Qingyang Wu Yuhang Li Yijie Zhang Aydogan Ozcan Michael Jerrett Yifang Zhu Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations Environment International Electric vehicles DCFC Air quality PM2.5 emission Particle resuspension |
| title | Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations |
| title_full | Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations |
| title_fullStr | Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations |
| title_short | Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations |
| title_sort | fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations |
| topic | Electric vehicles DCFC Air quality PM2.5 emission Particle resuspension |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003320 |
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