Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
equivalent (150 Mtoe) in 2005 in Europe
representing almost 2/3 of the total en-
ergy consumed for road transportation
(European Energy and Transport, Trends
to 2030, update 2007)
•
How is the car industry envisaging the ad-
aptation of its business model to a low car-
bon economy?
•
What kind of innovations are key to suc-
ceed? What are the constraints brought by
innovative batteries?
Considering that the car supply-chain has
nothing specific in terms of CO
2
emissions and
environmental impact than any other industry,
this case study will mainly be focused on the
indirect impacts.
Car transport played a key role in the XXth
century industrialisation and economic expansion;
It contributed to the development of economy,
mobility and enhanced industrial competitiveness.
However, the intensification of car transportation
increased the pressures exerted on the environ-
ment, with significant effects on climate change
and biodiversity. Curbing effects of car transpor-
tation on climate change is a huge challenge. It
would imply to activate several levers to impact:
•
Is the vision of “sustainable mobility” a re-
ality? Does it provide a driver for transfor-
mation in the car industry?
•
What are the drivers that are redefining and
extending the value chain of car industry?
An Early Environmental Awareness
without any Structural Change
Today, there is no doubt that cars harshly pollute
environment and corner oil resources (61.2%
of worl oil consumption in 2007 according to
IEA, key world energy statistics 2009). This
statement has been more and more shared over
the last 40 years, just after the first oil shock in
the seventies. Many regions of the world have
started to tackle environmental impacts linked to
car transportation by implementing regulations
on GHG and other pollutants emissions. This is
the case for instance in Europe or in the US. In
Europe, the 1998 Fuel quality directive introduced
specifications for diesel, petrol and gas-oil used
in road vehicles to limit impacts on health and
environment. This directive is currently under
discussion to further strengthen the standards. As
regards CO
2
emissions by cars, in 2007, the EU
commission proposed a binding legislation that
would compel car manufacturers to reduce the
emission intensity of new cars. After some intense
discussions, a compromise was reached among
member states to gradually limit CO2 emissions
of new cars at 120 g/km, for 65% of the new fleet
in 2012, 75% in 2013, 80% in 2014 and 100% in
2015. Moreover, the Energy and Climate Package
establishes a mandatory 20% emission reduction
goal under 1990 by 2020. Whereas energy sectors
will significantly contribute to reach this target,
• The level of car activity:
through demand
management, urban and land planning
• The energy intensity ratio of car trans-
port:
through increased efficiency of ve-
hicles, network optimisation (smart grid)
• The emission intensity ration of car
transport:
through fuel switching, techno-
logical innovation
To this respect, the transformation of car
industry is crucial. The success or not of this sec-
tor's transformation is likely to be a signal that
transition to a low carbon economy is effectively
taking place or not. It covers much more than pure
technological challenges.
This case study will focus on a specific techno-
logical innovation, the hybrid and electric vehicles
(EV) that were initially worked out by the car
industry to provide substitutes for high-emissive
vehicles. This entry will allow raising several
questions as regards the broader challenges for
a low carbon transition in the transport sector:
