Cost and emissions impacts of plug-in hybrid vehicles on the Ohio power system

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have been promoted as a potential technology that can reduce vehicles’ fuel consumption, decreasing transportation-related emissions and dependence on imported oil. The net emission and cost impacts of PHEV use are intimately connected with the electricity generator mix used for PHEV charging, which will in turn depend on when during the day PHEVs are recharged. This paper analyzes the effects of a PHEV fleet in the state of Ohio. The analysis considers two different charging scenarios—a controlled and an uncontrolled scenario—which offer the grid operator different levels of control over the timing of PHEV charging. The analysis shows that PHEV use could result in major reductions in gasoline consumption of close to 70% per vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle (CV) under both charging scenarios. Moreover, despite the high penetrations of coal in the Ohio power system, net CO₂ emissions from a PHEV could be up to 24% lower than that of a CV in the uncontrolled case, however, CO₂ and NO_x emissions would increase in both scenarios.