We are happy to see insights from this project published in Energy Research and Social Science. In this publication, our junior researcher Sophie-Marie Ertelt argues that the current “predict and provide” planning approach for road freight transport electrification in the European Union is insufficient for achieving net-zero emissions. She critiques this traditional method for its oversimplification of transport electrification as merely a drivetrain substitution, which neglects the complexities and intrinsic issues of transport demand and its broader environmental impact. She advocates for a shift towards “sufficiency-oriented planning,” emphasizing a more holistic consideration of transport needs within ecological limits and the interconnected challenges between transport and energy systems that arise when electrifying Europes truck fleet.
In her paper Sophie-Marie presents a comprehensive vision for this new planning approach that intertwines crucial elements of transport and energy sectors, aiming to ensure that the transition contributes meaningfully to european decarbonization goals. The figure below illustrates the four pillars of “sufficiency-oriented planning” with concrete implemenattion examples. For the full open acess article please click here.
CIRC-S Project Website 