Sustainable Electromobility : A System Approach to Transformation of Transportation

Sammanfattning: Electrification of transportation is generally analyzed from a technical aspect. Whereas the technical aspect is merely one of the main aspects of transforming the transportation system from fossil-based to electric. The other significant aspects, such as political, societal, and economic, are mostly neglected that can empower the transformation processes. This thesis aims to explore, analyze, and develop knowledge that leads to an understanding of identifying the key actors and their symbiotic relationships and dependencies in transforming the energy and transportation system from fossil-based to renewable and fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric. The research was explorative and categorized into two studies. The Study – I focuses on the technological development that leads toward transforming from the old fossil-based analog electricity generation and distribution system to the new digitalized renewable system.This study further explores the impact of these disruptive technologies on the market and society, and the challenges hindering the implementation and adoption of the new energysystem. Study – II focuses on developing new knowledge and understanding by integrating technological, political, societal, and economic aspects into one model and named it a 'multidimensional readiness index model.' This model can serve as an analytical tool and provide a broader perspective for exploring, analyzing, evaluating, and determining the countries' positions in transforming the transformation system. The model has been applied to eight countries, two from Asia (China and India) and Australia and five from Europe (Germany, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, and the UK). The kappa synthesizes the exploration of the papers. Additionally, the system approach is applied to explore and understand the symbiotic relationship in the new ecosystem among the key actors and stakeholders and their significant role in transforming the transportation system from fossil-based to electric. The main conclusion is that the countries with a higher symbiotic relationship among the key actors achieved a higher level of readiness in transforming the transportation system. In contrast, other countries with a low symbiotic relationship among the key actors are slowly catching up or even far behind in transforming the transportation system towards electrification.  The analysis shows that a higher level of readiness in transforming the transportation system is achieved by the countries where their government took firm decisions to integrate their associated manufacturing industries and society into their national agenda. China is one example of these countries leading globally in manufacturing and sales of electric vehicles. Norway does not manufacture electric vehicles. However, Norway is leading globally with the highest market share of electric vehicles. The Norwegian government uses its economic means to compensate for the price differentiation with its policies and provide subsidies and rebates to the buyers of electric vehicles. In countries that have adopted a fragmented approach toward transportation electrification and are waiting for the industries to take further initiatives, slow progress can be seen in those countries, such as Germany, Sweden, and the UK. Countries where the government showed less interest in electrification, even though they have introduced some policies, are still far behind in transforming the transportation system, such as India, Australia, and Slovenia. The key message is that the political role is decisive in transforming the energy and transportation system. It is a revolutionary change requiring enormous investment and political support to stabilize the industry and the market to compensate as the new actors enter the manufacturing industry and threaten the old firms. The new products enter the market and threaten the old businesses. The new political policies and regulations are required to balance the price differences between electric and fossil fuel vehicles by providing subsidies or rebates to encourage society to adopt change. Thus, energy and transportation industries are intertwined and operate under the umbrella of government rules and regulations. Without firm political support, the entire transformation from a fossil-based to an electric system is difficult to achieve.