Study Suggests Electric Vehicle Transition In The US Could Prevent 90,000 Deaths By 2050

If gas guzzlers disappeared from US car lots by 2035 and were replaced by zero-emission vehicles—essentially, electric cars, trucks, and SUVs— the nation would see 89,300 fewer premature deaths by 2050, according to a new report from the American Lung Association.

But on the condition that the country would also have to move more towards clean non-combustion electricity—like wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and nuclear—to see the full health benefit.

There will be almost 90,000 fewer premature details if the US adopts EV

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The report, published Wednesday, says that people in the US would have 2.2 million fewer asthma attacks and 10.7 million fewer lost workdays, and the country would net $978 billion in public health benefits with the move to cleaner vehicles and a cleaner power supply.

According to report author William Barrett, national senior director for clean air advocacy for the American Lung Association, "there are very clear benefits of zero-emission technologies."

The report "Driving to Clean Air: Health Benefits of Zero-Emission Cars and Electricity" makes use of data analysis from the association's March 2022 report "Zeroing in on Healthy Air."

The US Environmental Protection Agency says transportation is the main cause of carbon pollution

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, transportation is the main cause of carbon pollution, which is what is causing the climate crisis and is the US's worst source of air pollution.?And being exposed to?pollution in any form is harmful to our health. According to studies, smoking dramatically increases the risk of dying young or developing chronic diseases like asthma, heart issues, depression, or Alzheimer's.

According to research released this year by the American?Lung Association, almost 120 million Americans reside in places with poor air quality.?

Regardless of affluence, communities of colour and low-income areas are disproportionately impacted by this health issue. According to?studies, residents of these towns frequently reside closer to significant air pollution sources like power plants and busy highways.?

"This transition to zero-emission technologies is critical as a whole but especially critical in making sure that we’re targeting policies and investments and incentive programs so that all communities can take advantage of these health benefits and more healthier transportation choices," Barrett said.?

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The US would undergo a significant transition if it switched to zero-emission vehicles. Despite the fact that more individuals are driving them, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics estimates that only 4.6% of automobiles sold in the US in 2021 were electric.?

According to Dr. Jason West, a specialist in pollution research and its effects on public health, making the switch would entail an initial investment, but the rewards could end up being worth it in the long run.

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