Cities should not be designed solely for cars, even if they are electric.

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【Summary】The rapid growth of solar power and battery technology has led to a hopeful future for combating climate change, according to Professor Peter Newman. However, he cautions that transitioning to electric vehicles alone is not enough. Instead, cities should prioritize walkability and electric micro mobility to reduce automobile dependence and create more people-oriented spaces.

FutureCar Staff Aug 30, 2023 11:42 PM PT

Cities should not be designed solely for cars, even if they are electric.

The solar revolution and advancements in battery technology have been progressing at an unexpectedly rapid pace. Even the lead transport author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) did not foresee this level of progress.

Professor Peter Newman, a sustainability expert at Curtin University, has been part of the IPCC's transport and cities team for the past 12 years, serving as the lead author for the last 5 years. In a recent interview on the SwitchedOn podcast, Professor Newman expressed hope and excitement about the potential to combat climate change.

He highlighted the significant drop in the cost of solar, wind, and battery technologies, making them the cheapest sources of power in history. Additionally, he emphasized that various factors are aligning to support the transition to renewable energy.

Contrary to the IPCC's previous grim scenarios, Professor Newman stated that the changes are being driven not only by governments but also by finance, business, industry, households, and small businesses. These entities are taking action at a faster pace than expected.

Transportation is responsible for approximately one-fifth of global carbon emissions. Professor Newman believes that, with the exception of aviation and shipping, all other forms of transportation can be electrified. However, he warns against solely replacing internal combustion cars with electric vehicles, as this would perpetuate existing social and equity issues in car-dependent cities.

Instead, he advocates for people-oriented, walkable cities with a focus on electric bikes and other forms of micro-mobility. Professor Newman emphasizes that the problem lies not with cars themselves but with the dependence on automobiles. Daily and local transportation needs should not be reliant on cars.

If you would like to read more about this topic, please refer to the original article on our SwitchedOn sister site, which covers various aspects of electrification. You can also listen to the full interview with Professor Peter Newman on the SwitchedOn Australia podcast.