Fifteen Pathways between Electric Vehicles and Public Health: A Transportation–Health Conceptual Framework

The health impact of electric vehicles (EVs) is complex and multifaceted, encompassing reductions in air pollutants, improvements in road safety, and implications for social equity. However, existing studies often provide fragmented insights, lacking a unified framework to comprehensively assess these public health implications. This paper develops a comprehensive framework to summarize the health outcomes of EVs in urban areas, where the health impacts are more pronounced due to higher levels of traffic congestion and air pollution. Building on previous conceptual work that identified pathways linking general transportation and health, our model illustrates how the characteristics of EVs influence public health through various pathways compared to traditional transportation systems. Additionally, we address socioeconomic factors that introduce variability in EV-related health outcomes, emphasizing the need to consider potential health disparities in policy and intervention development. This comprehensive approach aims to inform holistic policies that account for the complex interplay between transportation, environment, and public health.