Let’s wrap up

To summarize the first module of the MOOC, we have the seen the benefits of electric vehicles from a technology, business and policy perspective. At the same time, the challenges for electric vehicles from the technology, business and policy domains were looked into as well. Primarily electric vehicles have the advantage of higher efficiency, lower emissions, convenience and lower cost of ownership. The higher efficiency and lower emissions are true from a well-to-tank, tank-to-wheel and well-to-wheel perspective. With the use of renewable sources of electricity like wind and solar energy, net emissions from a fuel perspective can be brought down to nearly zero. Further, the EV battery can be used as a storage for renewable energy and can support the grid via vehicle-to-grid technology.

Electric vehicles have low maintenance requirements and even the brake shoes of an electric car last longer than conventional cars due to regenerative braking. Due to the low maintenance requirements of electric car and lower fuel prices, electric cars have already begun to have a lower total cost of ownership in several vehicle segments. The fact the electric cars have large storage space, are quieter, don’t have gears and can be refueled at home provides a great deal of convenience as well. At the same time, electric cars face the challenge of high purchase price owing to high battery prices and range anxiety due to a limited range of current cars and long charging times. Charging infrastructure for electric vehicles will play a key role in helping overcome range anxiety and encourage the ownership of electric vehicles. With better charging infrastructure and the emergence of cars with bigger batteries, it is expected that the faced today by electric vehicles will be overcome in the future.

Governments all over the world are faced with multiple policy challenges, and they play a key role in facilitating the transition to sustainable mobility and renewable energy. Ultimately, it is the duty of a government to safeguard and promote the public interest. In the case of mobility, this would imply pushing for a transition to electric vehicles and electricity generation from renewable sources to prevent air pollution and mitigate climate change, and at the same time ensuring new jobs are created to replace the ones lost in the fossil fuel industry.  Different governments may choose different ways to achieve this transition. One way is to add more electricity generation capacity for meeting the demand of electric cars. A cheaper way perhaps would be to utilize the demand elasticity of industry and consumers through smart ICT infrastructure to match demand with supply from renewable sources. In this way, the electricity and transport sector would become interlinked like never before.