Climate change and the negative impact that various human activities can have on our ecosystem are among the inescapable challenges world leaders are facing. While the issue of global warming remains highly debated, there is increasing evidence to support the environmental impact of carbon emissions. It is estimated that the transport sector is responsible for roughly 18% of carbon emissions in Germany.
In future, greenhouse gas emissions will have to be reduced in the transport sector and due to the globally growing demand for energy in emerging markets and the risk of shortages prices of fossil fuel are bound to rise considerably. Accordingly mobility re-quires a sustainable development path towards zero-carbon emissions.
In consequence, the importance of alternative drive technologies is growing. Battery electric vehicles (BEV) are seen as one possible solution since they release no carbon emissions while running on electric power and are obviously low-noise. However, some question whether BEVs are truly “clean vehicles” because in some cases, the electricity used to power the vehicles is produced by high polluting coal power plants and a lot of energy is required to produce the batteries. In addition past development of battery-electric vehicles showed that the technology was not yet sufficiently mature due to low ranges and high prices to meet the requests of potential users. Thus, several require-ments need to be met to achieve a market acceptance which is sufficiently big to be considered a critical mass providing the way to sustainable mobility.
According to the open questions above which are associated with an alternative drive technology, this paper first gives an understanding of sustainable mobility and shows respectively goals (Chapter 2). Chapter 3 provides an overview of greenhouse gas emissions due to transport sector in Germany and consumer’s mobility characteristics and behaviour in order to analyse in Chapter 4 whether zero emission would be possible by BEVs. For this analysis three areas are focused: economically, ecologically and operating characteristics.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Sustainable Mobility
3 Basics of Mobility in Germany
3.1 Transport and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
3.2 Consumer’s characteristics and behaviour
4 Zero emission technology
4.1 Well-to-wheel analysis
4.2 Battery Electric Vehicle Analysis
4.2.1 Ecologically
4.2.2 Operating characteristics
4.2.3 Economically
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores whether zero-emission mobility can be achieved through the implementation of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by analyzing their economic, ecological, and operational viability within the context of the German transport sector.
- The environmental impact of current transport emissions in Germany.
- Consumer mobility patterns and their influence on vehicle requirements.
- A life-cycle "well-to-wheel" assessment of various drive technologies.
- Economic and technical barriers to the market adoption of electric vehicles.
- Potential business models and policy frameworks to support sustainable transition.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Well-to-wheel analysis
In order to achieve sustainable mobility, greenhouse gas emissions have to be reduced in the transport sector and due to the globally growing demand for energy in emerging markets and the risk of shortages prices of fossil fuel are bound to rise considerably. In consequence, the importance of alternative drive technologies is growing into direction of zero-carbon emissions.
Over the last years one of the new technologies was the hybrid car of Toyota which has successfully met the demands of the costumers. A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. Most hybrid cars have both conventional petrol and electric motors, with the ability to power the vehicle by either one independently or in tandem. However, hybrid cars have no provision to charge their batteries except by using energy that is ultimately generated by their petrol engines. This means that they may be considered, from a pollution and energy efficiency perspective, to be nothing more than somewhat more efficient petrol cars.
This example shows the importance of a life-cycle assessment of new drive technologies. "Well-to-wheel" analysis is the leading holistic approach in measuring the impact of fuel and vehicle choices. A conventional car uses only about one barrel of oil (well) of every 100 extracted from the earth to move its driver down the road (wheel). Since only about 15% of any fuel power ends up turning wheels, efficiency analysis is very insightful. Well-to-wheel measures everything from fuel extraction to the turning of the wheels. In a conventional vehicle, value chain activities might include oil extraction, pipeline or truck delivery to a port, tanker delivery to another port, truck transportation to a refinery, petrol delivery to a station, and finally the burning of petrol to provide propulsion.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter highlights the urgency of addressing climate change through the reduction of transport-related carbon emissions and introduces the potential of battery electric vehicles as a sustainable solution.
2 Sustainable Mobility: This section defines sustainable mobility based on WBCSD goals, emphasizing the need to balance social and economic mobility needs with environmental constraints.
3 Basics of Mobility in Germany: This chapter examines current German transport emission statistics and provides insights into consumer behavior, such as typical daily trip distances and preferred travel purposes.
4 Zero emission technology: This chapter conducts a detailed "well-to-wheel" analysis of drive technologies and evaluates battery electric vehicles regarding their ecological impact, operational range, and economic feasibility.
5 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes findings, arguing that while BEVs are a viable path to sustainability, they require further renewable energy integration, improved infrastructure, and supportive policy measures to gain mass-market acceptance.
Keywords
Sustainable Mobility, Electric Mobility, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Well-to-Wheel, Battery Electric Vehicles, Transport Sector, Renewable Energy, Fossil Fuel, Energy Efficiency, Consumer Behavior, Infrastructure, Market Acceptance, Carbon Emissions, Lithium-ion Battery, Sustainable Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper evaluates whether zero-emission mobility is achievable through battery electric vehicles, specifically focusing on the German market.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include transport-related environmental impact, the current limitations of battery technology, infrastructure requirements, and the socio-economic conditions necessary for market adoption.
What is the central research question?
The research asks if and under what conditions electric mobility can serve as a truly zero-emission solution for sustainable future transport.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The paper utilizes a life-cycle assessment approach, specifically the "well-to-wheel" methodology, to measure the efficiency and environmental impact of different vehicle drive technologies.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the current state of mobility in Germany, an analysis of hybrid and electric vehicle technologies, and a critical look at the economic and technical barriers to their widespread use.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Sustainable Mobility, Electric Mobility, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Well-to-Wheel, and Battery Electric Vehicles.
Why are hybrid cars considered insufficient for a long-term zero-emission goal?
Hybrid cars are still dependent on fossil fuels and often act only as more efficient conventional vehicles rather than truly emission-free alternatives.
How does the author propose overcoming the barrier of high battery costs?
The author suggests potential business models similar to the mobile telecommunications industry, where the vehicle and battery are separated and leased, alongside government incentives like tax waivers or subsidies.
- Citar trabajo
- Diplom-Betriebswirt (BA) Cornelius M. P. Kiermasch (Autor), 2010, Sustainable Mobility – Possibility of Zero Emission through Electric Mobility?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/152732
