When you think of an electric vehicle, you probably think of a car and Tesla. However, there is a quiet revolution taking place in transportation. It turns out that electrification can benefit practically all of our modes of transportation, including electric bikes, motorcycles, buses, freight trains, and even tractors and big vehicles. In the not-too-distant future, internal combustion engines will not require the use of gasoline or diesel.
This is significant because electric transportation will be critical in combating climate change. We would decrease nearly one-fifth of our emissions if all cars on the road were fueled by renewable electricity. We'd also be in a lot better position to withstand oil price increases tied to war, as well as breathe cleaner air and live in quieter cities.
Currently, all attention is focused on electric vehicles. To stimulate the electrification of all modes of transportation, new policy settings will be required. And that involves bringing electric mobility to the attention of the general public.
Vehicles that run on electricity have been around for over 120 years. They made up a third of all cars on US roads in 1900, and were sought after for their cleanliness and quietness. However, due to the high cost and weight of batteries, their first dawn came to an end, leaving internal combustion engines to rule the road.
Two things have happened: solar power has become the most affordable kind of energy in human history, and lighter lithium-ion batteries have gotten significantly less expensive. Electric car makers have grown competitive as a result of these incredible inventions. Solar energy is funnelled into the battery of an electric car, resulting in operating costs that are far lower than those of fossil fuel engines. The engines are also more simpler, which means fewer maintenance expenses.
We're also witnessing huge advancements in electric public transportation. There have been considerable advancements in smart technology in trains and trams during the last two decades, such as regenerative braking and sensors that enable active suspension. Electric vehicle makers have enthusiastically embraced these advancements. Regenerative braking, clever sensors to aid steering, and active suspension are now standard on all electric cars, making them safer and smoother to drive.
Trackless trams, which are enhanced buses with rail-like movement, are also providing beneficial cross-pollination. This is made feasible by technologies developed specifically for high-speed rail.
There's no reason why solar and battery technology should be restricted to automobiles. Electric vehicles can now replace all land-based internal combustion engine vehicles in the world.
Monarch Tractor is a fully electric and driverless tractor
Electric mobility is on its way.
You've probably already seen indications of electric mobility's potential. E-scooters are becoming more common in major cities, providing individuals with a quick and inexpensive alternative to travel short distances. E-bikes are gaining popularity, with commuters and families preferring them to a second car. This is only the beginning.
Electric micromobility (scooters, skateboards, and bikes) is rising at a rate of over 17% per year around the world, with current sales of $50 billion predicted to double by 2030.
We need the correct policy frameworks to truly embrace electric transportation. Automobiles, scooters, motorcycles, trackless trams, buses, lorries, freight trains, and farm vehicles can all play a role in the transition to the world's cheapest and highest-quality mobility.
Good EV policies could include
- Electric micromobility: how to charge and manage the growing number of electric scooters, skateboards, and bikes with adequate infrastructure, as well as how to enable the finest public sharing systems
- Electric public transportation: how to electrify all buses, passenger trains, and mid-tier transit (light rail, rapid transit buses, and trackless trams), as well as how to connect nett zero urban developments with charging stations.
- How to establish charging roads and hubs in railway stations, industrial precincts, and freestanding farm systems, as well as how to bring these to regions to enable nett zero mining, agricultural, and other processed products
To enable a quick and clean transition away from gasoline and diesel, each of these modes will require the same aims, subsidies, and rules as electric automobiles. We can make our cities more egalitarian, safe, and sustainable by focusing on all types of transportation.
