Path dependency and the future of advanced vehicles and biofuels
Åhman, Max LU
and Nilsson, Lars J
LU
(2008)
In Utilities Policy
16(2).
p.80-89
- Abstract
The accumulated experience and path-dependent development of petroleum-based transport fuels and internal combustion engine vehicles has created an apparent technological lock-in. Our analysis of a RApid Future vehicles and Fuels scenario (RAFF) for the EU shows that ambitious carbon emission reductions can be achieved even with projected increases in road transport. Furthermore, escaping the lock-in does not seem insurmountable. For this purpose, three strategic technology platforms should be supported: the electric drivetrain, the biochemical, and the thermo-chemical platforms. Each platform has its own characteristics and exhibits its own path dependencies that are relevant to consider with the aim of accelerating their development... (More)
The accumulated experience and path-dependent development of petroleum-based transport fuels and internal combustion engine vehicles has created an apparent technological lock-in. Our analysis of a RApid Future vehicles and Fuels scenario (RAFF) for the EU shows that ambitious carbon emission reductions can be achieved even with projected increases in road transport. Furthermore, escaping the lock-in does not seem insurmountable. For this purpose, three strategic technology platforms should be supported: the electric drivetrain, the biochemical, and the thermo-chemical platforms. Each platform has its own characteristics and exhibits its own path dependencies that are relevant to consider with the aim of accelerating their development and application. Contrary to conventional wisdom indicating that governments should not pick winners, we argue that these three platforms should be subject to focused and concerted development efforts. They all offer advantages to transport as well as other applications, and they match low-carbon futures in which electricity and/or hydrogen are important energy carriers.
(Less)
- author
- Åhman, Max
LU
and Nilsson, Lars J
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2008-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Biochemical fuel, Electric drivetrain, Energy transition, Innovation, Path dependency, Thermo-chemical fuel
- in
- Utilities Policy
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 10 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:40849102766
- ISSN
- 0957-1787
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jup.2007.11.003
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6c00668e-83a1-457e-a6a0-778ffa191084 (old id 1025912)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:30:49
- date last changed
- 2025-10-14 12:32:27
@article{6c00668e-83a1-457e-a6a0-778ffa191084,
abstract = {{<p>The accumulated experience and path-dependent development of petroleum-based transport fuels and internal combustion engine vehicles has created an apparent technological lock-in. Our analysis of a RApid Future vehicles and Fuels scenario (RAFF) for the EU shows that ambitious carbon emission reductions can be achieved even with projected increases in road transport. Furthermore, escaping the lock-in does not seem insurmountable. For this purpose, three strategic technology platforms should be supported: the electric drivetrain, the biochemical, and the thermo-chemical platforms. Each platform has its own characteristics and exhibits its own path dependencies that are relevant to consider with the aim of accelerating their development and application. Contrary to conventional wisdom indicating that governments should not pick winners, we argue that these three platforms should be subject to focused and concerted development efforts. They all offer advantages to transport as well as other applications, and they match low-carbon futures in which electricity and/or hydrogen are important energy carriers.</p>}},
author = {{Åhman, Max and Nilsson, Lars J}},
issn = {{0957-1787}},
keywords = {{Biochemical fuel; Electric drivetrain; Energy transition; Innovation; Path dependency; Thermo-chemical fuel}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{80--89}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Utilities Policy}},
title = {{Path dependency and the future of advanced vehicles and biofuels}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2007.11.003}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.jup.2007.11.003}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2008}},
}