The study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) finds that widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, even when compared with more efficient conventional vehicles, with figures up to 64% lower than current levels.

The report found that widespread adoption of EVs could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 550 million metric tons annually in 2050 – equivalent to removing 100 million passenger cars from the road.

The Edison International welcomed the findings. Ted Craver, chairman, president and CEO, said: “Today's study gives us a clear vision of how expanding transportation electrification is a key strategy to achieving critical greenhouse gas and air quality goals. This underscores the important role utilities can play nationally in accelerating the market through efforts such as investing in infrastructure to support public and workplace charging stations and incorporating EVs into our own fleets."

Edison Electric Institute (EEI) president Tom Kuhn added: “The report by EPRI and NRDC clearly and comprehensively demonstrates that broad-based deployment of electric transportation technologies, paired with an increasingly clean power system, is the best pathway to a sustainable transportation sector with lower-carbon emissions.”