As our world urbanizes at an exponentially increasing rate, reducing air pollution and transportation emissions is more important than ever. In this Alamo Bite, we will walk you through the basics behind electromobility (or e-Mobility) and why Alamo Solutions and our partners are working to expand it.
What is electromobility?
Electromobility is the use of electric modes of transportation, in other words, vehicles that operate using electric powertrain technologies instead of gasoline or diesel. The common feature behind all electric vehicles (EVs) is that they fully operate using electricity, meaning they are equipped with an on-board capacity for energy storage and usually obtain their energy from the power grid.
Why all the fuss about it?
The popularity behind the concept of e-Mobility is driven by the need to address rising air pollution levels, fuel efficiency and emission requirements, and a growing market demand for lower operational costs. To date, EVs have mainly been used in cities where they are ideal for things like delivery services, taxis, and car sharing.
According to a survey by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), transportation is responsible for 24 percent of all CO2 emissions worldwide. Given the zero-emissions standard maintained by all EVs in transit, electromobility will be key to winding back pollution without stifling the transportation required by modern day society. In fact, depending on the emissions from the manufacturing process of the electrical vehicle's battery, all EVs have the capacity to be entirely CO2 neutral down to production.
Electromobility is changing the way we think about transportation and not only because it is more environmentally-friendly. EVs are a great long-term investment for individuals and businesses alike as the costs of electricity are lower on average than gasoline or diesel, they can provide long-run operational cost reduction. Additionally, EVs require less maintenance and fewer repairs.
How does an electric vehicle work?
The most important aspect of an EV is its rechargeable battery, a better battery will simultaneously increase the range and reduce charging time. The electric energy is stored in the battery during charging and then a technology called an “inverter” then converts the stored electrical power into mechanical energy during travel. The more efficient this conversion is, the longer an EV can travel. The average EV can travel 250+ miles/400+ km on one charge and these numbers are increasing every year. The longest-range electric car on the market currently can go as far as 780km on only one charge. That would be from Madrid to Málaga and back.
The current EV market
EV distribution has been growing rapidly over the past ten years, with the end of 2020 seeing over 10 million on the world's roads. As the market continues to grow, many countries offer big financial incentives to buy EVs in order to accelerate the shift in demand through consumer preference. Norway, for example, subsidizes them greatly.
Figure 1: Global electric vehicle stock by region (2010-2020)
Figure 1 depicts the rapid increase in global EV stock in Europe, US, and China.
What comes next?
One of the greatest benefits of EVs is their capacity to be truly zero-emission vehicles. To achieve this, their electricity during charging must come from renewable sources and the manufacturing of their battery must also be CO2-neutral. This will require further investment in renewable energies to power our electrical grid and also the strengthening of green manufacturing strategies. Currently, electromobility and sustainability advocates are investigating different ways to make the production process greener, for example, the recycling of and recapturing of the batteries themselves. But, we still have a ways to go on achieving this.
Along a similar line, the network of charging stations must continue intensifying. In Europe for example, 70% of all EU charging stations are concentrated in just three countries: the Netherlands, France, and Germany. However, these countries make up only 23% of the EU’s total surface area. In order to overcome this, the EU is putting into place further auditing of the deployment processes and many organizations are stepping forward with solutions and strategic plans.
Conclusion
As electromobility continues to grow, even more opportunities are popping up for both the private and public sector to capitalize on, ranging from supportive policy to entrepreneurial business ventures. The price of EVs and their batteries are steadily dropping each year, making e-cities and full electromobility increase in attainability. Right now is an ideal time to join the movement.
At Alamo Solutions, we are working with clients such as the electric delivery service provider Scoobic, to help them grow globally and implement/expand electromobility wherever possible. We are passionate about using innovation and technology to invest in a sustainable future and we would love to help your company realize its sustainable transition. Check out our page to learn more about our projects and get in touch.
Works Cited
AG, Infineon Technologies. “Emobility: Definition, Function, Benefits - Infineon Technologies.” EMobility: Definition, Function, Benefits - Infineon Technologies, https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/discoveries/electromobility/.
Gartner_Inc. “Definition of Electro Mobility (e-Mobility) - Gartner Information Technology Glossary.” Gartner, https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/electro-mobility-e-mobility.
“How Do Electric Cars Work?” EDF, https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/how-do-electric-cars-work.
Iea. “Transport – Topics.” IEA, https://www.iea.org/topics/transport.
Naylor, Sam. “Top 10 Longest Range Electric Cars 2021.” Auto Express, AutoExpress, 7 Oct. 2021, https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars-vans/108345/top-10-longest-range-electric-cars-2021.
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