The transportation sector has an enormous demand for resources and energy, is
a major contributor of emissions (i.e., greenhouse gases in particular), and
is defined largely by the kind of energy it uses—be it electric cars,
biofuel trucks, or hydrogen aircraft. Given the size of this sector, it has
a crucial role in combating climate change and securing sustainability in
its three forms: environmental, societal, and economic.
In this context, there are many questions concerning energy options on the
path toward a more sustainable transportation sector. Is hydrogen the fuel
of the future? Is there enough electricity to power a fully electric
transportation sector? What happens when millions of electric vehicle
batteries need to be decommissioned? Which regulatory measures are effective
and appropriate for moving the sector in the right direction? What is the
“right” direction?
This chapter does not aim to answer all those questions. It does, however,
highlight and discuss the most pressing issues in terms of what is simply
unanswered at this point. It also addresses solutions on the horizon which
experts are still debating. Therefore, this chapter is directed at
practitioners in the transportation and energy sectors who want a
comprehensive picture assembled by experts in the field, who wish to better
tell different perspectives apart, and who will prepare their respective
organizations for what is arguably one of the biggest transformations in our
lifetime.