A world without exhaust pipes

The efficient movement of people iscrucial for any society. When transportation networks function well,they drive economic development and literally bring people together. Butin many parts of the world, mobility is a matter of life and death; itis dirty, unsafe, and chaotic. Pollution and congestion from trucks,buses, and cars are daily hazards for millions, especially in emergingcountries.Fortunately, big changes are coming to how humans move.For the first time since the mid-19th century, when the modern internalcombustion engine was invented, its demise is within sight. Carmanufacturers have announced plans for scores of electric models, andpoliticians in several European countries have put an expiry date ongasoline and diesel cars, with leaders in India and China aspiring to dothe same.Companies around the world are making bold predictionsthat electric mobility is the future of transportation. Even those withthe most to lose from a shift away from fossil fuels understand thatelectric vehicles (EV) are inevitable. In July, even Ben van Beurden,the CEO of Shell, conceded that his next car will be electric.Morepeople are arriving at the same conclusion, and those of us who havebeen championing EVs as one of the solutions to climate change areoptimistic that a tipping point is approaching. Sales of electric carshave increased dramatically in recent years; some 750,000 wereregistered in 2016 – nearly half in China.Still, it is human natureto resist change, and many prospective buyers remain hesitant. That iswhy addressing consumption bias must be the highest priority over thenext few years. Several changes are needed to ensure that growth in EVusage and sales continues.For starters, consumers must overcome thebelief that zero-emission mobility is only for wealthy people indeveloped countries. Every year, 6.5mn people die from polluted air, and92% of the world’s population lives in places where the air is unsafeto breathe. Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to dirty aireverywhere. Investing in electric mobility and infrastructure –including electrified public transportation, charging stations, andelectric car-sharing programmes – will help, not hurt, development.Supportfor such investments requires people to reject the false promise of“clean” fossil fuels. Some industry officials insist that electric carsare not ready for mass rollout, and that a better solution would be tobuild more efficient gasoline and diesel engines. This is the story wehear most often from car dealers in Latin America. But such views are asinaccurate as they are self-serving.I have been fortunate toexperience firsthand what electric mobility feels like, and how it issuperior to gasoline- and diesel-only cars. I’ve travelled for thousandsof miles across several countries on all-electric road trips. Once adriver experiences the clean, silent, and powerful technology, it isdifficult to hand back the keys. Governments and consumer groupseverywhere must work together to put more people behind the wheel ofthese inspiring vehicles.Finally, we must address the structuralimbalances that persist in our transportation policies. Simply put,those who suffer most from “dirty” mobility have the weakest politicalvoice. For example, data from the United Kingdom show that it is oftenthe poorest people that walk or take buses. Development of zero-emissionpublic transit, therefore, is rarely a top priority for governmentleaders. To sway them, advocates must sharpen their defences of theeconomic and social benefits of zero-emission mobility, such as thepositive effects on public health.Changing course will take time. InCosta Rica, my organisation is working to encourage businesses andgovernments to sign an “electric mobility pact” to encourage investmentin EV infrastructure. In early 2018, we will open an online registry,and by the end of next year, we aim to have 100 public and privateorganisations on board. Costa Rica’s legislature is also debating a billto provide tax incentives for electric transportation.Others inLatin America are finding their own ways to promote electric mobility.In Chile, for example, the focus is on solar power and the link betweenmining and EV manufacturing.But political changes alone will notpush EVs into the fast lane. To do that, customers will need to embrace anew clean-mobility narrative. In Costa Rica, we pride ourselves on thefact that nearly all of our electricity is produced by renewablesources, including hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind. This gives us anincentive to lead the global transition from gas-powered vehicles toelectric cars, buses, and trains. We Costa Ricans are striving toward“un pa?s sin muflas” – a country without exhaust pipes. Expanding thatgoal globally is the ultimate objective.To be sure, pushing theelectric engine past the gas-powered relic will remain an uphill battle.But new technologies, like better batteries and speedier chargingstations, will help accelerate the transition. Just like the CEO ofShell, I, too, believe that the transition to electric mobility isinevitable. What we see on the roads today is just the beginning. –Project Syndicate* Monica Araya is founder and ExecutiveDirector of Nivela, leads the citizens group Costa Rica Limpia, and isVice President of Costa Rica’s Electric Mobility Association.