Abstract
In recent years, the majority of players and stakeholders in the automotive industry have focused their attention on new powertrain technologies. There has been a constant tug-of-war between proponents of electric drive and defenders of traditional engines, a debate that appears to be more emotional than based on a rational assessment of the technical and social aspects of the alternatives in play. Further, a debate that overshadows what at the moment seems indisputable, namely that traditional engines are unsustainable for health and the environment, and that electric cars themselves (although greener), are not a fully sustainable option, either.
The emphasis on technical aspects over social ones is a legacy of an anachronistic approach driven by the prevalence of economic interests over the concern for quality of life. The quasi-ideological clash of technologies is a diversion from the real problem, which is to think about a future where we can live without cars, at least in urban areas.
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Notes
- 1.
EPA (2020). History of Reducing Air Pollution from Transportation in the United States. https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/history-reducing-air-pollution-transportation.
- 2.
The European Economic Community (EEC), precursor of the European Union, promulgated in 1970 a directive (Council Directive 20 March 1970, 70/220/EEC) that, referring to earlier French and German regulations, imposed limits of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions to the member states.
- 3.
The “Clean Air Act” (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) was promulgated in 1963 and then amended in 1970, 1977 and 1990. The 1970 Act imposed a 90% reduction in various cars pollutants within five years and, of course, was aggressively hampered by US carmakers (Kaiser, 2003).
- 4.
The first oil shock was due to the decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to raise the price of oil. The most relevant causes of the second one were the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War. Between 1973 and 1974 the annual average price of oil quadrupled from around $4 to almost $13 per barrel. It grew only slightly until 1979 when the second oil crisis began, between 78 and 79 and reached over 33 dollars in 1982. Source: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/realprices/.
- 5.
The European regulation banning the sale of ICE cars in Europe from 2035 (COM(2021) 556 final, + Annex) has been approved by the EU Parliament in 2022. It is part of a wide legislative package known as “Fit for 55”, which set a series of climate-related actions in several industries, with the aim of achieving the goals set by the “Green Deal” (COM(2019) 640 final + Annex), that is the document presenting the EU strategy and roadmap to reach climate neutrality within 2050.
- 6.
Commission Staff Working Document Impact Assessment (...) “Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition” (...) SWD/2020/176 finalSWD(2020) 176 final.
- 7.
In fact, both European countries and the United States originally devoted their emissions regulations to curbing the most harmful pollutants, namely carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. CO2 reduction has gained attention more recently, following the spread of the global warming awareness.
- 8.
“Global EV Outlook 2022”, IEA.
- 9.
This estimate was made by calculating the minimum incentive provided by the main EU countries for the purchase of electric cars, multiplied by the number of cars registered in each country in the same year.
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Stocchetti, A. (2023). Greening the Car—Mission Impossible or Not Pursued?. In: Cabigiosu, A., Lanzini, P. (eds) The Green Transition of the Automotive Industry. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37200-1_4
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