Abstract
Diesel fuel powered off-road vehicles and equipment used in agriculture, construction, mining, and industry have significant air quality and public health impacts due to high levels of pollutant emissions. Replacing these with zero emission powertrains represents a key strategy for reducing the harmful environmental impacts. However, the air quality impacts of zero emission off-road vehicles have not been assessed. Using the CMAQ model, we find that fully converting the off-road sector to zero emission equipment can decrease annual PM2.5 up to 0.9 μg/m3 and reduce daily maximum 8-hr average (MDA8) ozone as much as 6 ppb in Southern California. Statewide, these improvements yield benefits to public health potentially ranging up to $22.0 billion annually. The results further demonstrate the ability of zero emission off-road equipment to achieve health benefits within socially and economically disadvantaged communities.
