Overview

• Researchers measured air quality at 50 DC fast chargers across Los Angeles and found PM2.5 near power cabinets averaged about 15 µg/m3—twice typical urban background—with peaks up to 200 µg/m3.
• Analysis attributes the elevated particulate levels to powerful cooling fans re-suspending brake, tire and road dust rather than emissions from EVs or chargers.
• Concentrations drop sharply just a few meters from the cabinets and return to background levels beyond a few hundred meters, underscoring the effect’s highly localized nature.
• Engineers are testing cabinet-mounted air filters to trap dust before it’s blown into the air, and manufacturers such as ChargePoint have committed to adding similar filtration.
• The UCLA team is expanding its monitoring to more charging sites, gas stations and traffic locations, and recommends that drivers step back from power units or wear PM2.5-filtering masks during charging.