To be sustainable, mobility must move away from the “car-centric” model

The car—a revolutionary technology of the last century that allows people to travel farther, more easily, and more comfortably—is now the subject of criticism, particularly for its contribution to global warming. Indeed, In France, cars account for 53% of transportation emissions, or 17% of total greenhouse gas emissions^[1]. The main solution proposed to address this issue is vehicle electrification: in fact, the European Union has voted to ban the sale of nearly all new internal combustion engine cars by 2035. While this solution is indeed necessary, is it sufficient to meet the challenges of sustainable development?

Will we be able to decarbonize our transportation with electric cars?

An electric car in France results in a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to its gasoline-powered counterpart^[2]. However, Measures other than simply electrifying the vehicle fleet will be necessary to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the goal of France and Europe: decarbonizing vehicle production and electricity generation, limiting the size of vehicles and batteries², and, more broadly, revising the car-centric model as it is defined today. Indeed, There are other forms of motorized transportation that are 10 times less carbon-intensive than an electric car.^[3].

It's not just about the climate

If the current car-centric model of mobility needs to be reevaluated, it is not only for climate-related reasons:

• Metals : Moving away from dependence on fossil fuels leads to a new form of dependence: dependence on metals. Today’s batteries use highly critical materials, such as lithium, cobalt, or even copper, which are at the heart of significant strategic, geopolitical, and environmental issues (mine locations, soil degradation, water stress, resource scarcity, biodiversity, etc.)^[5].
• Health : Cars affect the health of people around them by emitting various harmful particles. While electric cars eliminate exhaust emissions, a significant amount of fine particulate matter continues to be released during braking and as a result of tire wear on the road surface^[6]. Furthermore, cars also contribute to a major public health problem: a lack of physical activity^[7].
• Space : Roads and parking lots take up space and contribute to land development and soil sealing. For example, half of Paris’s public space was reserved for cars in 2016^[8].
• Safety : More than 3,000 people died in traffic accidents in France in 2022^[9].

But then, how can we get around in a sustainable way, without a car?

Several alternatives to driving are emerging, such as public transportation and active transportation (walking, biking, and e-bikes). This is the case for many trips of less than 5 km, for example, 60% of which are made by car.^[10].

But there are situations where this type of modal shift isn’t possible (lack of public transportation, heavy loads, etc.), and we need to consider other possible levers to make our individual motorized travel more sustainable. Although the current trend is moving in the opposite direction, the most effective levers are well known and within our reach: speed, aerodynamics, and weight. Despite improvements in energy efficiency, today's cars are still very energy-intensive because they are essentially transporting their own weight, with a dead weight ratio of 92%^[11]. Small cars are interesting, and other solutions go even further: “intermediate vehicles.” Falling somewhere between bicycles and cars, these new types of vehicles—still relatively unknown to the public—could provide a sustainable solution to the vast majority of our transportation needs. To learn more about this topic, see the recent article by Aurélien Bigo is very comprehensive.

Okay, but how am I supposed to go on vacation without a car?

While compact cars may not be suitable for all uses of a car, that doesn't mean it's necessary to own one. Since the issue of vehicle range is frequently raised, it is important to note, first of all, that trips longer than 80 km account for only 1.3% of all trips taken by French people^[12]. For these trips, there are other, more environmentally friendly options to consider: taking the train in combination with public transportation (and connecting vehicles), carsharing, and car rentals.

In addition to being more environmentally friendly, these options are less expensive than owning a car, which costs its owner an average of 5,000 € per year, not including fuel and toll charges^[13]. By way of comparison, this budget would be enough to travel 26,500 km by train (that's about 30 round trips between Paris and Lyon!)^[14], or to rent a vehicle for several extended periods.

And this reflection on travel also raises the issue of hypermobility: traveling long distances frequently inherently consumes a considerable amount of energy. Isn’t it possible to combine trips or take vacations closer to home? In this sense, moving away from the “car-centric” model also allows us to question our mobility habits and the purpose of our trips, so that we retain only those that are truly necessary.