Proposal Numbers: UAF: 2318384/ UAA: 2318385
Project Title: Collaborative Research: NNA Research: Electric Vehicles in the Arctic (EVITA) – Interactions with Cold Weather, Microgrids, People, and Policy
Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely seen as the responsible future of transportation, and the Arctic is seeing increased interest in EV adoption. However, several fundamental gaps in knowledge must be filled to evaluate where, how, and for whom EVs can provide widespread benefits, and what might need to change to realize these benefits. There is little data on the performance of EVs in cold Arctic temperatures and few studies of how EVs affect isolated rural power systems. It is not clear how electric rates and public policies will affect EV adoption and use. Furthermore, prior research with communities found that the inability to maintain EVs locally is one of the highest barriers to EV adoption. This project will bring together researchers, tribal community partners, electric utilities, and vocational programs in automotive technology in Kotzebue and Galena, Alaska, to answer the question of how EVs can be integrated in remote Arctic communities to improve resilience, provide cleaner, affordable mobility, and promote energy justice.
This project will conduct convergent engineering and social science research to address the unknown impacts of extreme cold weather on EVs, the impact of EVs on remote Arctic diesel microgrids, and the socio-economic conditions and policies needed to facilitate widespread, equitable use of EVs in rural Alaska to support the self-determination of underserved communities. Knowledge of the efficiency and performance of commercially available EVs in extremely cold climates will be advanced by collecting data, performing modeling and analysis, and publishing results for EVs operating in temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius, including off-road EVs. To learn how receptive rural Alaskans are to EVs, how EVs would integrate with use patterns and needs, and potential barriers to adoption, this project will apply the transportation acceptance model (TAM) to EV use in the two study communities. Novel research will be conducted on the impacts of EV charging on Arctic diesel microgrids and the impacts of policy choices on EV uptake and charging behavior in diesel microgrid communities. This project also brings together the University of Alaska Anchorage’s (UAA) Community and Technical College Auto/Diesel Program, the Alaska Technical Center in Kotzebue, and the Galena City School District’s Galena Interior Learning Academy to develop and deliver culturally appropriate and community responsive workforce development curricula tailored to EVs in rural Alaska.
Dr Schmidt’s co-PIs are Dr. Mohammed Heidari Kapourchali from UAA’s College of Engineering and Michelle Wilber from the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at UAF.
