<Technology transition towards e-mobility: Technology Assessment as a tool for policy design >

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Résumé:

Analysts agree that the technology shift towards electric mobility could help decoupling transport growth from negative environmental impacts, improve fuel consumption and deal with the increasing demand for individual mobility in a sustainable way.
Four main factors are critical to understand the changes occurring in this shift towards e-mobility: batteries (e.g. new battery types, higher cycling stability etc.), infrastructures (e.g. electric grids, charging infrastructure), new business models (e.g. car sharing, battery leasing, power grid services) and end users [1], [7]. Furthermore, this technological transition also increases the complexity already present in transport systems through a high number of actors (new players as power companies, etc.) and the diversification of stakeholders (energy providers, new service providers, etc.) [11] . These complex interactions require formulations at the policy level in order to efficiently integrate all interests with partially different aims. For example, some European countries have been promoting policies for sustainable technology development in the various modes of transport [2], [3], [4].
There is a pressing need to find approaches able to handle the growth in complexity in transport systems regarding electric vehicles, integrating new and old stakeholders, and providing efficient solutions to mobility in societies. In particular, the automotive industry needs a holistic approach to cope with the e-mobility shift, because technology and economic solutions are but a part of the new equation. For example, other important issues to be taken into account include acceptance, social issues, industrial dynamics, governance, control and power [5]. Only in this way technology decisions can successfully meet the current and expected future needs of society and the automotive industry [8], [9].
This paper aims therefore to introducing a new perspective to the debate, based on a technology assessment approach and e-mobility case studies. A constructive technology assessment methodology will be used to include and interlink all relevant actors within the innovation chain from early development, including future technology developments [5], [6]. The planned outcome is to supply new inputs to support strategic thinking for policy making in mobility.