Transport electrification can contribute to breaking transport dependency on oil and decrease carbon dioxide emissions. The increasingly decarbonised electricity generation will provide cleaner electricity to propel electric vehicles. Electric vehicles will be able to provide storage services to the grid, favouring further expansion of renewables.
The development of energy storage technologies and devices remains the cornerstone of a fully electrified transport system integrated in a clean energy network. Decreasing battery costs while increasing their energy density and lifetime will speed up electrification of road transport.
The deployment of a network of recharging points covering the whole European Union road network is another key enabling condition for transport electrification.
The Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) Roadmap for Transport electrification aims to bring forward the developments carried out in the framework of the European Green Vehicles Initiative and encourage multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary research and innovation activities on new materials, advanced propulsion systems and information and communication technology.
Current developments
ROAD - The number of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road is increasing.
Vehicle manufacturers are launching dedicated models on the market, grid operators are installing public charging infrastructures and governments are funding multiple demonstrations and pilots, and creating framework conditions, regulations and incentives for the purchase and use of electric vehicles. In addition, electric bicycles and pedelecs are now more common.
Electrification of road vehicles has been extended to delivery vans, trucks and buses.
RAIL - On busy lines electrification makes economic sense. On low-density lines there is no proven cost-efficient solution to replace diesel-powered trains.
Nonetheless, when return of investment for electric wiring is not possible due to the frequency and the usage of certain lines, hydrogen and fuel cells can be considered as an alternative.
AIRBORNE - The aviation sector is in the midst of a pioneering era with regard to electro-mobility.
Currently, electro-mobility for aircraft only exists in the single/twin-seater categories and consists of retrofits of existing conventional designs with reduced payload capability.
Regarding fixed-wing commercial aviation, at current technology levels the development of even a hybrid-electric passenger aircraft appears challenging.
WATERBORNE - Ships use electrical power on board to support service and loads. This includes fans, pumps, compressors, cranes, lighting, heating, electronics and computing. On-board diesel generators are used to supply these loads in port, however to improve local air quality the use of shore based plug-in electrical supplies is being encouraged. Ships are propelled by mechanical and electrical means. The number of ships powered by electric propulsion worldwide is continuously increasing.
Electric propulsion offers advantages in performance and/or efficiency over traditional mechanical drives which are popular in vessels that operate over long distances. Integrated Full Electrical Propulsion systems are commonly found in ships for passenger vessels, Liquefied Natural Gas tankers, shuttle tankers, cruise ships, ferries and offshore support vessels. Range capabilities is continuously improving and a broader adoption of electric ships in the maritime industry is expected.