RCE Peel - 2024

Implications of Freight Electrification in Peel Region
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Implications of Freight Electrification in Peel Region
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Peel
Contributing organization(s) : 
Peel Region, Smart Freight Centre, University of Toronto
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
RCE Peel
Organizational Affiliation: 
RCE Peel
E-mail: 
rcepeel@peelregion.ca
Format of project: 
Report
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Web link: 
N/A
Additional resources: 
N/A
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
The study follows Long-Term Pathways 23 of Peel Region’s Long-Term Goods Movement (2019): Combat Climate Change – Use existing relationships with industry to help develop, demonstrate, and market technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
At what level is the policy operating?: 
Local
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
Canada
Location(s): 
Peel Region
Address of focal point institution for project: 
N/A
Ecosystem(s):
Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Peel Region is a regional municipality in the province of Ontario, Canada. It encompasses the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, and the Town of Caledon. Peel is characterized by a diverse and rapidly growing region with a strong industrial and commercial base, and extensive transportation network.
Peel Region is a major economic hub, particularly in the logistics and manufacturing sectors, due to its strategic location near Toronto and its access to key transportation infrastructure. Peel benefits from its proximity to major highways which enable efficient goods movement across Ontario and into the United States. Peel Region is also home to Toronto Pearson International Airport, the busiest airport in Canada, which plays a vital role in air cargo operations and connects the region to global markets. This combination of robust transportation infrastructure supports Peel's role as a key logistics and manufacturing center, attracting businesses that rely on efficient access to domestic and international markets.
Environmentally, Peel Region faces challenges related to urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and air quality, but is also home to significant green spaces and agricultural areas, balancing urban development with environmental preservation efforts
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Peel Region faces sustainable development challenges such as balancing rapid urbanization with environmental preservation, mitigating traffic congestion, and reducing GHG emissions from freight and passenger transport.
Additionally, ensuring equitable access to green spaces and transit, addressing air quality and health impacts, and implementing resilient infrastructure to withstand climate change are critical areas of focus for sustainable growth
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
January, 2021 to January, 2023
Rationale: 
Developing an integrated framework to evaluate the effectiveness of scenarios for decarbonizing freight transport is essential for identifying strategies that yield the greatest benefits, particularly for disadvantaged populations. Freight transportation is a significant contributor to GHG emissions, air pollution, and associated health problems, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities located near major transportation corridors.
By focusing on truck electrification, this study aims to address these inequalities by reducing emissions and improving air quality. Assessing various electrification scenarios will provide a detailed understanding of how different approaches can mitigate environmental and health impacts.
Furthermore, this evaluation will consider environmental justice, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations experience substantial improvements in air quality and health outcomes. The findings will guide policymakers in implementing equitable and effective emission reduction plans, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more just society.
Objectives: 
Develop new capabilities for a detailed assessment of emission reduction plans targeting truck electrification from different perspectives including air quality, health, and environmental justice. Scenarios for greening truck movements are assessed in terms of their potential to improve the air quality experienced by all residents with special attention toward marginalized groups.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
This study assesses the implications of freight electrification on GHG emissions, air quality, health, and environmental justice. Key activities include:
• Modeling Emissions and Air Quality: using the Polair3D model to simulate air pollutant concentrations, incorporating the CB05 chemical mechanism and SCRAM_SOAP aerosol module; and employing three nested domains around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) for detailed emissions and exposure assessments.
• Emission Inventory and Processing: creating a high-resolution emission inventory using Canadian and US data, processed with the software SMOKE model for spatial, temporal, and chemical allocation.
• GHG Emission Calculation: estimating GHG emissions for electric trucks using energy consumption rates and marginal emission factors.
• Scenario Analysis: comparing base case and electrification scenarios for heavy-duty, medium-duty, and light-duty trucks.
• Environmental Justice Analysis: analyzing disparities in air pollution exposure, focusing on NO2 and black carbon impacts on marginalized populations.
• Health Impact Assessment: using Health Canada’s tool to estimate health benefits from changes in PM2.5 concentrations.
Size of academic audience: 
N/A
Results: 
The highest concentrations of air pollutants occur along the major highways around Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The largest improvements in NO2 and Black Carbon (BC) concentrations occur in the heavy-duty electrification scenario with a notable improvement in this area.
GHG emissions for the GTHA for all on-road transportation is estimated at around 35,000 tonnes per day for the base case. The heavy-duty truck electrification scenario is associated with the highest reduction in daily GHG emissions.
Some areas with a high proportion of the most deprived households are exposed to higher levels of NO2. The highest improvements occur for the most disadvantaged areas, with the heavy-duty electrification scenario generating the highest reductions in NO2 concentrations.
The heavy-duty truck electrification scenario leads to the highest health benefits, with a reduction in yearly chronic premature mortality
Lessons learned: 
The effectiveness of the scenarios was assessed to identify which scenario was associated with the highest benefits for the most disadvantaged communities. Instead of just focusing on individual census variables, different indices of social disadvantage which are representative of multiple socio-economic characteristics of residents were considered.
Even though the considered scenarios were ideal, these analyses would shed light on the most heavily polluted areas mainly caused by diesel-fueled vehicles and would provide valuable information for health and environmental justice studies.
Key messages: 
Addressing diesel exhaust emissions in populated areas is crucial not only for reducing health impacts but also for improving transportation efficiency and alleviating congestion. The modelling framework examined mitigation scenarios from environmental, air quality, health, and efficiency perspectives, ensuring a balanced approach to urban mobility challenges
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
This project is an outcome of the Smart Freight Centre’s activities by the University of Toronto. The Smart Freight Centre (SFC) has established a collaborative network with Peel Region, McMaster University, the University of Toronto, and York University. SFC works to reduce community and environmental impacts of moving goods in the Greater Toronto Area
Funding: 
This study was funded by Peel Region and University of Toronto
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Direct
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
Theme
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Ecotourism 
Indirect
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes