Reduced urban air pollution and mortality from the transition to new energy vehicles in China
Nature
Reduced urban air pollution and mortality from the transition to new energy vehicles in China - Nature Health
Using satellite data and interpretable machine learning, the widespread adoption of new energy vehicles was shown to reduce particulate matter particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less and carbon monoxide in Chinese cities, preventing 262,000 non-accidental deaths and 75,000 all-cause deaths.
Here, using high-resolution satellite-retrieved data and interpretable machine learning techniques, this study quantified the impact of NEVs on atmospheric pollution, specifically particulate matter particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less, and evaluates the corresponding health benefits. By 2023, NEVs led to reductions of 23.80% in particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (8.97 µg m−3) and 30.67% in carbon monoxide (0.26 mg m−3), resulting in the prevention of approximately 262,000 non-accidental deaths and 75,000 all-cause deaths, respectively.
Now we only have to tackle the tires and we are good with the emissions.