Regime confluence in socio-technical transitions: a study of connected, autonomous, shared and electric vehicles

This PhD research aims to investigate sustainable future automobility by using socio-technical transitions theory (STT). Automobility plays multi-functional roles in society not only as commuting tool but also serving tool for serving higher quality of life, freedom of movement, and increasingly is associated with environmentally friendly concepts. This emergent form of automobility integrates many aspects ranging from connectivity (C) between vehicles and to everything else, to vehicle automation (A), car sharing (S), and electronic powertrain (E), which ultimately may combine to provide automobility as an on-demand service. Therefore, these so-called ‘CASE’ (connected, autonomous, shared, electric) vehicles bridge automobility freedom of movement in physical ‘limited’ spaces with ‘unlimited’ virtual spaces into one seamless experience, fundamentally transforming the meaning of automobility. Hence, this research has the following issues to address: is it possible for the four features (CASE) to combine? If this becomes a prevalent trend, could they redefine automobility, and with what consequences? To answer the relevant research questions, mixed data collective methods have been conducted. In which, secondary data extracted mainly from governmental documents, companies’ official webpages, professional online websites, and the grey literature. Meanwhile, primary data via interviews are used to further verify the cases’ validity. Hence, 340 instances of CASE developments identified during the research have been collected to construct an empirical storyline supplemented with 33 in-depth interviews. Additionally, we have highlighted 7 corporate cases in the traditional automotive industry and 4 outsiders to illustrate the CASE transformation process. The main findings are: 1) network theory could supplement STT to provide insights into the relationships between ‘niche’ areas and the ‘regime’; 2) regime boundary dissolution and network reintegration help new niches emerge at regime level; 3) CASE concepts have allowed ‘outsiders’ to challenge automotive OEM incumbents; and 4) the automobility transformation pathway is following ‘dealignment - realignment’ pattern. The thesis concludes many individual initiatives have failed but some remain, finding a development path for a multiplicity of reasons (political, market-driven, corporate strategy or environmental requirements). These half-mature niches and networks will finally challenge existing rules and regulations and thus push society and technology forward to reach to another ‘balance’. However, to reach a new ‘balance’ is a huge challenge that requires to leverage different stake holders such as environment sustainability, policymakers, customers and of course car manufacturers

Renewables 2005: Global Status Report

The Global Status Report provides an assessment of several renewables technologies -- small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels -- that are now competing with conventional fuels in four distinct markets: power generation, hot water and space heating, transportation fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy supplies. The report finds that government support for renewable energy is growing rapidly. At least 48 countries now have some type of renewable energy promotion policy, including 14 developing countries. Most targets are for shares of electricity production, typically 5-30 percent, by the 2010-2012 timeframe. Mandates for blending biofuels into vehicle fuels have been enacted in at least 20 states and provinces worldwide as well as in three key countries -- Brazil, China and India. Government leadership provides the key to market success, according to the report. The market leaders in renewable energy in 2004 were Brazil in biofuels, China in solar hot water, Germany in solar electricity, and Spain in wind power. The Global Status Report fills a gap in the international energy reporting arena, which has tended to neglect the emerging renewable energy technologies. Regular updates will be produced in the future. The report was produced and published by the Worldwatch Institute and released today at the Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference 2005, sponsored by the Government of China. This Conference brings together government and private leaders from around the world, providing a forum for international leadership on renewable energy and connects the wide variety of stakeholders that came together at the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany, in 2004. The creation of REN21 was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Formally established in Copenhagen in June 2005, REN21 is now supported by a steering committee of 11 governments, 5 intergovernmental organizations, 5 non-governmental organizations, and several regional, local, and private organizations

Why should Brazil do (more) business with China

To show how China can be a greater partner in trade relations with Brazil, this paper will encourage business owners to discover this fast-growing middle-class market and increase their income profit when selling their products to China. The first part will explore all the advantages of the Chinese market which is growing a very powerful middle-class. The new middle class is up to consume from the very basic export goods such as cereals and meat to the most luxury branded products. Those luxury products can be either imported or produced in Chinese territory. There will be shown the importance of Chinese entrance in WTO and with an analysis PESTEL (made by Brazilian perspective) for this market, key points will be reviewed. The main objective of this paper is to list reasons why China is the best Market to do to business with at this moment. It focuses on Brazil-China trade relations possibilities through the study of two cases of success: Sino-Canadian and Sino-German trade relations. To conclude, steps Brazil should take to conquer this market will be listed.Para mostrar como a China pode ser um parceiro ainda maior nas relações comerciais com o Brasil, este artigo irá encorajar os proprietários de empresas a descobrir esse mercado de classe média de rápido crescimento e a aumentar seu lucro ao vender seus produtos para a China. A primeira parte explorará todas as vantagens do mercado chinês, que desenvolve uma classe média muito poderosa. A nova classe média compra desde produtos de exportação muito básicos, como cereais e carne até os produtos mais luxuosos. Esses produtos de luxo podem ser importados ou produzidos em território chinês. Será mostrada a importância da entrada chinesa na OMC e com uma análise PESTEL (feita pela perspetiva brasileira) para este mercado, pontos-chave serão analisados. O principal objetivo deste artigo é listar os motivos pelos quais a China é o melhor mercado para fazer negócios nesse momento. Concentra-se nas possibilidades de relações comerciais Brasil-China através do estudo de dois casos de sucesso: relações comerciais sino-canadenses e sino-alemãs. Para concluir, passos que o Brasil deve seguir para conquistar este mercado, serão listados

The End of Traffic and the Future of Access: A Roadmap to the New Transport Landscape

In most industrialized countries, car travel per person has peaked and the automobile regime is showing considering signs of instability. As cities across the globe venture to find the best ways to allow people to get around amidst technological and other changes, many forces are taking hold — all of which suggest a new transport landscape. Our roadmap describes why this landscape is taking shape and prescribes policies informed by contextual awareness, clear thinking, and flexibility

An analysis of possible socio-economic effects of a Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) in Europe

A Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) is likely to have significant impacts on our economy and society. It is expected that CCAM unveils new and unprecedented mobility opportunities that hold the potential to unlock a range of safety, environmental and efficiency benefits. At the same time, it is anticipated that it will bring deep changes in the labour market, progressively making some occupations and skills less relevant, while at the same time opening up new opportunities for different businesses and requiring new and more advanced skills. With Europe accounting for 23% of global motor vehicle production (Acea Statistics, 2016) and almost 72% of inland freight transported by road in Europe (European Commission, 2017a), the full deployment of Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technologies is expected to have a substantial impact on the European economy. The economic impacts of CAVs will go far beyond the automotive industry, into sectors like insurance, maintenance and repair or health, among others. While it is clear that CAVs could offer unique opportunities for value creation, it is also essential to acknowledge that they might imply a substantial transformation of our industries and our social and living systems. The study is aimed at analysing the value at stake for both industry and society as a result of a transition towards a CCAM mobility in Europe. It aims at identifying the economic sectors that are most likely to be affected by CCAM as well as the influencing factors driving future changes in each sector. The ultimate goal is to estimate ranges of potential effects for the main affected sectors, with the support of a set of scenarios. The study also aims at analysing the potential effects of CCAM on the workforce and pursues the identification of skills that need to be addressed in the mobility transition. The focus of the study is exclusively paid on road transport and covers both passenger and freight transport.JRC.C.4-Sustainable Transpor

Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World

Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World is the first comprehensive report on the emergence of a “green economy” and its impact on the world of work in the 21st Century