{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/43185"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/43185","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Prospects for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States : a general equilibrium analysis","abstract":"The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) could significantly contribute to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from personal vehicle transportation in the United States over the next century, depending on the cost-competitiveness of the vehicle, the relative cost of refined fuels and electricity, and the existence of an economy-wide carbon emissions constraint. Using a computable general equilibrium model, I evaluated the potential for the PHEV to enter the U.S. personal vehicle market before 2100 and alter electricity output, refined oil consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and the economic welfare losses associated with the imposition of a strict climate policy. The PHEV is defined by its ability to run on battery-stored electricity supplied from the grid as well as on refined fuel in an internal combustion engine. Sectors that produce PHEV transportation as well as other electric-drive vehicle technologies were added to the MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) Model as a perfect substitute for internal combustion engine (ICE)-only vehicles. Engineering cost estimates for the PHEV, as well as information about the pre-existing fleet, were used to specify PHEV sector input shares and substitution elasticities in the model. Based on the model results, several conclusions emerged from this work. First, lower vehicle cost markups may hasten PHEV market entry, especially in the absence of a climate policy. Second, in the short term, the lower cost of electricity compared with refined fuels on a per mile basis is likely to favor adoption of vehicles with longer all-electric ranges. However, realizing the electricity advantage will depend on whether or not current battery cost and performance limitations can be overcome. Third, the availability of biofuels as a carbon neutral fuel substitute could delay PHEV market entry, especially when a climate policy is imposed.","abstract_html":"The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) could significantly contribute to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from personal vehicle transportation in the United States over the next century, depending on the cost-competitiveness of the vehicle, the relative cost of refined fuels and electricity, and the existence of an economy-wide carbon emissions constraint. Using a computable general equilibrium model, I evaluated the potential for the PHEV to enter the U.S. personal vehicle market before 2100 and alter electricity output, refined oil consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and the economic welfare losses associated with the imposition of a strict climate policy. The PHEV is defined by its ability to run on battery-stored electricity supplied from the grid as well as on refined fuel in an internal combustion engine. Sectors that produce PHEV transportation as well as other electric-drive vehicle technologies were added to the MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) Model as a perfect substitute for internal combustion engine (ICE)-only vehicles. Engineering cost estimates for the PHEV, as well as information about the pre-existing fleet, were used to specify PHEV sector input shares and substitution elasticities in the model. Based on the model results, several conclusions emerged from this work. First, lower vehicle cost markups may hasten PHEV market entry, especially in the absence of a climate policy. Second, in the short term, the lower cost of electricity compared with refined fuels on a per mile basis is likely to favor adoption of vehicles with longer all-electric ranges. However, realizing the electricity advantage will depend on whether or not current battery cost and performance limitations can be overcome. Third, the availability of biofuels as a carbon neutral fuel substitute could delay PHEV market entry, especially when a climate policy is imposed.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Karplus, Valerie Jean"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Technology and Policy Program.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["John M. Reilly and David H. Marks."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008","date_published":"2008","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:32Z","subjects":["Technology and Policy Program.","Civil and Environmental Engineering.","Engineering Systems Division."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"rights_urls":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43185","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["John M. Reilly and David H. 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They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43185"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis (S.M. in Technology and Policy)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008.","Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-76)."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) could significantly contribute to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from personal vehicle transportation in the United States over the next century, depending on the cost-competitiveness of the vehicle, the relative cost of refined fuels and electricity, and the existence of an economy-wide carbon emissions constraint. Using a computable general equilibrium model, I evaluated the potential for the PHEV to enter the U.S. personal vehicle market before 2100 and alter electricity output, refined oil consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and the economic welfare losses associated with the imposition of a strict climate policy. The PHEV is defined by its ability to run on battery-stored electricity supplied from the grid as well as on refined fuel in an internal combustion engine. Sectors that produce PHEV transportation as well as other electric-drive vehicle technologies were added to the MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) Model as a perfect substitute for internal combustion engine (ICE)-only vehicles. Engineering cost estimates for the PHEV, as well as information about the pre-existing fleet, were used to specify PHEV sector input shares and substitution elasticities in the model. Based on the model results, several conclusions emerged from this work. First, lower vehicle cost markups may hasten PHEV market entry, especially in the absence of a climate policy. Second, in the short term, the lower cost of electricity compared with refined fuels on a per mile basis is likely to favor adoption of vehicles with longer all-electric ranges. However, realizing the electricity advantage will depend on whether or not current battery cost and performance limitations can be overcome. Third, the availability of biofuels as a carbon neutral fuel substitute could delay PHEV market entry, especially when a climate policy is imposed.","(cont.) Fourth, large-scale adoption of the PHEV will increase electricity demand, reduce refined oil consumption, and could offset the economic welfare cost of pursuing a climate policy, especially if biofuels are not available. Fifth, realizing the maximum carbon emissions reduction potential of grid-charged electric-drive vehicles such as the PHEV will depend on concurrent reductions in power sector emissions."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Prospects for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States : a general equilibrium analysis"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["John M. Reilly and David H. Marks."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Technology and Policy Program.","Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.","Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.","Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division."],"dc:creator":["Karplus, Valerie Jean"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2008-11-07T19:13:17Z"],"dc:date.available":["2008-11-07T19:13:17Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2008"],"dc:description":["Thesis (S.M. in Technology and Policy)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008.","Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-76)."],"dc:description.abstract":["The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) could significantly contribute to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from personal vehicle transportation in the United States over the next century, depending on the cost-competitiveness of the vehicle, the relative cost of refined fuels and electricity, and the existence of an economy-wide carbon emissions constraint. Using a computable general equilibrium model, I evaluated the potential for the PHEV to enter the U.S. personal vehicle market before 2100 and alter electricity output, refined oil consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and the economic welfare losses associated with the imposition of a strict climate policy. The PHEV is defined by its ability to run on battery-stored electricity supplied from the grid as well as on refined fuel in an internal combustion engine. Sectors that produce PHEV transportation as well as other electric-drive vehicle technologies were added to the MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) Model as a perfect substitute for internal combustion engine (ICE)-only vehicles. Engineering cost estimates for the PHEV, as well as information about the pre-existing fleet, were used to specify PHEV sector input shares and substitution elasticities in the model. Based on the model results, several conclusions emerged from this work. First, lower vehicle cost markups may hasten PHEV market entry, especially in the absence of a climate policy. Second, in the short term, the lower cost of electricity compared with refined fuels on a per mile basis is likely to favor adoption of vehicles with longer all-electric ranges. However, realizing the electricity advantage will depend on whether or not current battery cost and performance limitations can be overcome. Third, the availability of biofuels as a carbon neutral fuel substitute could delay PHEV market entry, especially when a climate policy is imposed.","(cont.) Fourth, large-scale adoption of the PHEV will increase electricity demand, reduce refined oil consumption, and could offset the economic welfare cost of pursuing a climate policy, especially if biofuels are not available. Fifth, realizing the maximum carbon emissions reduction potential of grid-charged electric-drive vehicles such as the PHEV will depend on concurrent reductions in power sector emissions."],"dc:description.degree":["S.M."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43185"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Technology and Policy Program.","Civil and Environmental Engineering.","Engineering Systems Division."],"dc:title":["Prospects for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States : a general equilibrium analysis"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:32Z"}