Economic and environmental sustainability of Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer for electric vehicles supporting reduction of local air pollutant emissions

Abstract In recent years, Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology has gained interest within the market of charging systems for electric vehicles. This technology can potentially boost the diffusion of electric vehicles (EVs) and consequently contribute in reducing the local air pollution and the related externalities. In this context, an environmental and economic analysis has been performed to estimate the social costs saving derived by the decarbonization of the passenger cars mobility. The benefits evaluated in the analysis are compared to the investment and maintenance costs necessary to install and operate a DWPT infrastructure. This under the basic assumption of the present work that considers the widespread adoption of electric vehicles achievable only in presence of the parallel integration of DWPT systems in the motorway infrastructure. At the same time, the work takes into account the possible variations of the energy mix and the effects related to the increase of the electric energy demand related to the increase of the circulating electric vehicles. The analysis is carried out for the six most populous European countries (i.e. Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and UK) and it indicates as the estimated social costs savings are capable to sustain the investment for a wide integration of DWPT in almost all these countries.