Change is never easy, especially when it involves adopting new technologies. In this blog post, we explore how electromobility can address environmental issues, the role of renewable energy, and the importance of technological advancements towards a sustainable future.
From Hoofbeats to Electrons: The Journey of Transportation
With the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, the impact on urban environments and daily lives is becoming increasingly noticeable. In Hungary, the number of cars on the road has almost doubled since the early 1990s to nearly four million today. The rapid increase in car ownership has brought serious environmental consequences, including significant smog and rising carbon dioxide emissions. These issues highlight the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional vehicles. The widespread use of electric vehicles offers a promising solution to these challenges. Despite initial scepticism, the EV market is steadily growing, driven by its green credentials and potential for cost savings.
When Horsepower Literally Meant Horses
Public health and the environment have long faced challenges associated with various modes of transportation. In the 1800s, for instance, horse-drawn carriages created public health issues due to the large amounts of manure produced. With the advent of Ford's Model T, transportation changed dramatically, as mass production lowered costs and led to automobiles replacing horses in widespread use. This obviously alleviated some direct issues, while creating other, less immediately noticeable ones, such as the heavy toll suffered by the climate during the next decades.
Today, transportation is undergoing another transformation with the move towards electrification. Electric cars produce significantly less carbon dioxide compared to internal combustion engines, making them an attractive choice to ease the burden on our environment. Existing automotive giants like BMW are increasingly focusing on electric motor production, while more and more EV-only manufacturers enter the market as well. While there was an initial resistance to this shift, electric vehicle sales are on a continuous rise, although at a slower rate due to some EU and US incentives expiring last year.
To Combust or to Charge: That is the Big Question
Modern internal combustion engine vehicles cannot be sustained long-term due to increasing pollution. To mitigate harmful emissions, trucks tend to be equipped with emulators to disguise their true pollution levels. The potential benefits of plug-in hybrids are often underutilized, being mostly driven conventionally rather than charged, undermining their green credentials. Despite a dip in production dynamics due to supply chain issues and changing incentives, manufacturing, including hybrids and plug-ins, is still in growing demand. For this reason, charging infrastructure remains a critical aspect, with only about two-thirds of current global demand met.
The environmental impact of electric cars directly depends on the source of the electricity used to charge them. EVs are becoming more sustainable partly due to the growing share of green energy in the electricity mix. Germany, for instance, sources 60.9% of its energy from renewables, although it still imports coal from Poland. Hungary lags with only 15.7% of its energy coming from renewable sources, yet as green energy becomes cheaper and more efficient, electric vehicles will become cleaner and continue to improve over time.
On the Greener Side of Tomorrow: Electric Cars and Renewable Energy
Although the energy sector is still the largest overall polluter in the world, it is becoming cleaner every day. Renewable energy now accounts for 47.9% of the European Union's energy production, marking significant strides towards sustainability. Beyond their more sustainable fuel type, electric cars are also significantly more efficient in their energy use, requiring only around a third of energy to drive the same distance as ICE cars. Reflecting their growing popularity, there has been a 35% year-on-year increase in EV sales from 2022 to 2023. Additionally, electric car sales have increased by 25% in 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Technological solutions such as smart energy management and advanced parking technologies are crucial for addressing the evolving needs of EV owners. However, overcoming rigid behaviors remains a significant barrier, as many individuals resist changing established habits. This societal hesitance towards adopting new technologies is reminiscent of the early skepticism faced by pioneers like Ford and the Wright brothers. Despite initial resistance, their innovations eventually revolutionized transportation and changed the world.
Self-Driving Cars, Artificial Intelligence... What Else Does the Future Hold?
Thinking of the future of EVs, the advantages are clear. They offer enhanced efficiency and reduced operational costs compared to ICE vehicles. They also contribute significantly less to urban air and noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which is crucial in combating climate change.
The use of data-driven insights will be essential in preparing for an increasingly electric future. Optimising urban infrastructure, including parking facilities and charging networks, is critical to supporting widespread EV adoption and sustainable urban development.
Would you like to know how Parkl can make parking and charging more efficient? Learn more about our smart mobility solutions by contacting our colleagues at sales@parkl.net or visiting our website!
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