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Should All Cars Be Electric by 2025? The Electric Car Debate in Europe

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  • Nathalie Ortar

    (Laboratoire Aménagement Économie Transport, ENTPE-University of Lyon/CNRS, rue Maurice Audin, 69518 Vaulx-en-Velin CEDEX, France)

  • Marianne Ryghaug

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, Faculty of Humanities, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Bygg 5, 5471, Dragvoll, Edvard Bulls veg 1, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

The car is still the most common mode of transport in Western countries, particularly so across the European Union, as it accounts for about two-thirds of daily commuting. So far, measures aiming to reduce automobile traffic and incentives for the modal shift to public transport and non-polluting methods of travel (walking, cycling, etc.) have had little effect. Moreover, the car lies at the core of a very complex system that has proven to be difficult to unlock. In light of these challenges, using new types of engine power may appear to be a solution. Electric vehicles have the potential to improve the efficiency, affordability, and sustainability of the transport system. However, there remains much uncertainty as to how such a transition from one type of engine to another may unfold, and where it could take place within the European context. In June 2017, the H2020 project SHAPE-ENERGY launched an online debate on the Debating Europe platform with the question: “Should all cars be electric by 2025?”. The aim of the debate was to elicit citizens views on whether the goal could be reached, how and with which consequences. The diversity of the vantage points that have appeared in the subsequent discussion generated by the strands of debate allows us to bring into discussion the viewpoints and arguments that are not often addressed in the literature on the adoption of electric cars in a comprehensive way. The article sheds light on those debates across Europe, in order to bring new insights to European policymakers that are seeking to promote the market for electric vehicles. It also broadens the scope and offers important contributions to scholarly debates on the diffusion and adoption of such vehicles.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathalie Ortar & Marianne Ryghaug, 2019. "Should All Cars Be Electric by 2025? The Electric Car Debate in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:7:p:1868-:d:217917
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    2. Katarzyna Turoń & Andrzej Kubik & Feng Chen, 2019. "Operational Aspects of Electric Vehicles from Car-Sharing Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Deidre Wolff & Lluc Canals Casals & Gabriela Benveniste & Cristina Corchero & Lluís Trilla, 2019. "The Effects of Lithium Sulfur Battery Ageing on Second-Life Possibilities and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Ingeborgrud, Lina & Ryghaug, Marianne, 2019. "The role of practical, cognitive and symbolic factors in the successful implementation of battery electric vehicles in Norway," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 507-516.
    5. František Pollák & Josef Vodák & Jakub Soviar & Peter Markovič & Gianluca Lentini & Valerio Mazzeschi & Alessandro Luè, 2021. "Promotion of Electric Mobility in the European Union—Overview of Project PROMETEUS from the Perspective of Cohesion through Synergistic Cooperation on the Example of the Catching-Up Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, February.
    6. Roberta Riverso & Carmela Altamura & Francesco La Barbera, 2023. "Consumer Intention to Buy Electric Cars: Integrating Uncertainty in the Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-13, May.
    7. Bledea, Cosmin Codruț & Pop, Izabela Luiza & Toader, Rita Monica, 2022. "The effects on the economy and environment caused by electric cars compared to the conventional ones," MPRA Paper 118639, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Jingyang Chen & Qin Liu, 2023. "The Green Consumption Behavior Process Mechanism of New Energy Vehicles Driven by Big Data—From a Metacognitive Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    9. Adam Novotny & Inez Szeberin & Sándor Kovács & Domicián Máté, 2022. "National Culture and the Market Development of Battery Electric Vehicles in 21 Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    10. Flipo, Aurore & Ortar, Nathalie & Sallustio, Madeleine, 2023. "Can the transition to sustainable mobility be fair in rural areas? A stakeholder approach to mobility justice," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 136-143.
    11. Janusz Adamczyk & Maciej Dzikuć & Robert Dylewski & Erica Varese, 2024. "Assessment of selected environmental and economic factors for the development of electro-mobility in Poland," Transportation, Springer, vol. 51(6), pages 2199-2223, December.
    12. Aurore Flipo & Madeleine Sallustio & Nathalie Ortar & Nicolas Senil, 2021. "Sustainable Mobility and the Institutional Lock-In: The Example of Rural France," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    13. Tomasz Wisniewski & Blanka Tundys, 2022. "Determinants of Growth of the Electric Car Market – Investigating on the Truck Market," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2), pages 210-222.
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    15. OGREAN Claudia & HERCIU Mihaela, 2022. "Sustainability Performance And Reporting – A Strategic Issue For Electric Car Automakers," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 17(3), pages 288-305, December.

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