Systems Perspectives on Electromobility 2013

Edited book, 2013

The transportation of goods and people is at the heart of the industrial society. Yet transportation relies heavily upon oil – a scarce fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and local air pollution. The term ‘electromobility’ refers to an alternative transportation system based on vehicles propelled by electricity. Electromobility is increasingly seen as favourable in that it could circumvent problems related to both oil and biofuels whilst meeting our mobility needs and desires. However, the virtue of electromobility is not uncontested and a range of issues come to the fore. Are electric vehicles energy efficient? Are they safe? How much greenhouse gas is emitted in the production of electricity and advanced vehicle components? Will battery production lead to new resource problems? Will electromobility promote or hinder the diffusion of renewable energy? Will driving patterns shape or be shaped by new types of vehicles? Is electromobility suitable for cars but not freight transport? How is technical knowledge for electromobility produced and by whom? Is the automotive industry up to the challenge? Is there a need for new business models and governmental policy support (or both) to stimulate market demand for electric vehicles? There is no simple answer to these questions. However, studying electromobility from different systems perspectives can help to resolve these complex issues. Systems Perspectives on Electromobility 2013 is composed of fifteen chapters that address different topics related to the immensely important issue of whether – and to what extent – our transport systems can and should be energised by electricity. The book is far from complete, but we hope it may be a useful starting point for future discussions and debates.