How Far Are We From Being a Zero-Emissions World?

It’s no secret and is becoming increasingly prevalent that many motorists going into 2022 feel a tension between the cars they love driving and their efforts towards assisting with climate change. Of course, climate change is still to this day a controversial topic and a complex issue, but it has become a cold hard fact that petrol-powered engines are going to see the end of their days earlier than first predicted. But how on track are we, within the automotive industry, to assist in this slow but sure change to create a zero-emissions world?

The future of a zero-emissions world is far from soon and will not happen overnight. However, many tyre manufacturers and car businesses are already locking down on their harmful products and converting them over to a more eco-friendly option. This next decade is due to deliver a number of truly decisive changes when it comes to the world’s car industry. The mass adoption of EVs (electric vehicles) and self-driving cars along with phasing out combustion engines has proven to have huge impacts on how motorists use and pick their cars. Now is a good time to look at how close the global industry is to becoming zero-emission. 

The Phase-Out

The European Union is leading the charge when it comes to producing a zero-emissions world, and by 2030, it seeks to have 30 million brand new EVs on the road. This is being accompanied by a desire to cement the goal into law. As of March 2021, there were 9 nations in the EU that supported the move to ban new petrol and diesel vehicles being produced. If this ban is to come into effect across the whole of the EU, it would be the largest of its kind to date. In the meantime, however, many large companies including Volvo, Jaguar and Ford have announced that by 2030, they all aim to shift towards an all-electric range in the battle with climate change and CO2 emissions. 

Are there roadblocks to the emission-free future?

Although it seems we have come a long way within the industry into developing technologies that are reducing emissions, the reality is that it appears very unlikely to be a straight and narrow path forwards. The first and probably one of the most obvious problems is the affordability of many petrol-powered vehicles in comparison with EV’s. Both in terms of initial purchase and — in certain circumstances — ongoing costs. For EVs to become the vehicle of the masses, costs need to come down to ensure it is affordable for all and enable them to make the switch.

With such strong momentum behind the zero-emissions future, means although it may be a slow road, the industry is moving in the right direction towards a zero-emission future. We’re not there yet — but we’re certainly on the road to it.