Sustainability and Mobility
Sustainability
The word sustainability comes from the Latin root ‘tenere’, meaning ‘to hold’. In English, the word ‘sustain’ – the root of ‘sustainability’ – also means ‘to maintain’, ‘to support,’ or ‘to continue’. On March 20, 1987, Bruntland Commission (under the United Nations) defined sustainability as follows: “to meet our present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their own needs – that is, without stealing their lives.”
All these negativities, from traffic problems brought about by the rapid population growth and urbanization, to the environmental problems that beset the future of our world, underpin the need for new mobility solutions.
Sustainability in the Automotive Industry
Science is showing that our planet is warming faster than it has at any other time in its history, and that human activities – such as the use of fossil fuels, agriculture, and deforestation – are causing it. Now, more and more companies and countries are finally waking up to the serious risks (to our planet) posed by global warming, making net zero emission commitments. China, the USA, the EU, the UK, Canada, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, and many other – mostly smaller – economies account for 70% of the global economy, half of global emissions, and 75% of the global fossil fuel export market. At the beginning of 2021, all of them vowed to become net zero by – at the latest – 2050.
Geleceğin nüfus merkezlerini ve ekonomik faaliyetlerini desteklemek için yeni mobilite biçimleri kritik önem taşıyor. Temiz teknoloji ile desteklenen mobilite çözümlerinin benimsenmesi, sağlık ve çevre üzerinde daha az etkiye sahip, rahat, güvenli ve ekonomik mobilite çözümlerini mümkün kılabilmekte. Otomotiv sektörü de bu yönde, teknolojik devrimin zirvesinde.
Before COVID-19 hit, mass transportation accounted for about 15% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – around 10% coming from automotive transport alone. Alas, global restrictions imposed during the pandemic have slashed CO2 emissions hailing from the transport sector significantly. It is worth noting here, however, that this is largely due to mandatory restrictions rather than extensive (infra)structural changes within the sector. In contrast, certain behavioral shifts among people – such as working from home more -- are likely to continue long after the restrictions have been lifted.
What opportunities does decarbonisation offer the automotive industry?
As concerns about climate change, rapid population growth, and urbanization intensify, new modes of mobility are critical to support future population centers and economic activity. Despite temporary COVID restrictions, most contemporary transport networks – wherever in the world they happen to be – suffer from congestion, inefficiency, accidents, and skyrocketing prices. However, exploiting clean technology could lend itself to more comfortable, safe and economical mobility solutions that pose less impact on people’s health and on environment. That noted, the global automotive industry is on the verge of a technological revolution, thanks to various new innovations. There still is many a great obstacle we need to overcome. Among these include challenges faced by organizations (whose business models have been disrupted by the rapid pace of change and the need to adopt innovations quickly), alongside those faced by governments, who are responsible protecting people’s social benefit.
Transforming Mobility
Transforming mobility is driven by three key disruptive technology-driven trends: (1) Electric vehicles (EVs), including alternative powertrains, (2) connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), and (3) so-called Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Each trend individually poses its own impact on the existing ecosystem. But, when they come together, all three have the power to create a deep change. This, in turn, is expected to radically transform our existing vehicle-centric system into an ecosystem that is more efficient, data and customer-oriented, and self-driving. Users would then be able to rather fluidly alternate between taking public transit and using private cars. Moreover, demand-driven and planned modes of transport – accompanied by dynamic travel information — will, in turn, allow for instant changes during the journey. The mobility ecosystem’s global value is predicted to reach over 1 trillion USD by 2030 as it continues to evolve.