Introduction
5
5
and improved air quality. As costs continue to fall, electric vehicle sales
are increasing and plug- in vehicles are becoming more popular. In 2017,
global sales of plug- in all- electric and hybrid vehicles exceeded 1 million
passenger cars for the first time. This was followed by more than 2 million
new electric vehicles (EVs) delivered in 2018 (Irle, 2019; Kane, 2019). Policy
incentives, such as the plan by France to end sales of gasoline and diesel
cars by 2040, have also had an impact (Ewing, 2017). London has daily
fees that are larger for polluting vehicles to try to improve air quality
(Erickson, 2017).
The great transitions to wind and solar electricity generation and to zeroemission vehicles have started (Chapters 12– 14). The economic progress
towards competitive, low- cost innovations is very important because many
consumers are influenced by cost savings.
1.6 Complex Interactions
Each of the above topics – greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, climate
change, electrification of transportation, smart grids, and the economics of all
these – are large and important topics. They are also all interrelated. This book
addresses important interactions, including the energy, transportation, air
quality, climate change, and health nexus (Erickson and Jennings, 2017); the
renewable energy, electric vehicle, and smart grid nexus; and the Sustainable
Development Goals, air quality, health, renewable energy, and electric
vehicle nexus. Indeed, although each of these topics is plenty complicated on
its own, there is also significant complexity in their interactions. For instance,
wind- and solar- generated electricity must be managed by finding uses for
the amount of electricity being generated, at the time that it is generated. One
way to handle this interaction dynamic is by leveraging the possibility that
electric vehicle batteries can be charged when power needs to be delivered,
thus helping to balance supply and demand (Chapters 4 and 7). In many
parts of the world, there are off- grid opportunities to generate electricity
with solar panels and store it in batteries because prices are decreasing for
both batteries and solar panels (Chapter 9).
Sector integration is one of the significant issues in urban sustainable development, and this can include efficient management of green
buildings, transportation, water and waste management, and ecosystem
care. This integration and coordination itself is a challenge. Good participatory governance in a multisector, multistakeholder environment is
often a challenge for community leaders (Stewart et al., 2018). There is a
challenge in the need to understand social, institutional, economic, physical, and technological limitations regarding the process of advancing
5
5
and improved air quality. As costs continue to fall, electric vehicle sales
are increasing and plug- in vehicles are becoming more popular. In 2017,
global sales of plug- in all- electric and hybrid vehicles exceeded 1 million
passenger cars for the first time. This was followed by more than 2 million
new electric vehicles (EVs) delivered in 2018 (Irle, 2019; Kane, 2019). Policy
incentives, such as the plan by France to end sales of gasoline and diesel
cars by 2040, have also had an impact (Ewing, 2017). London has daily
fees that are larger for polluting vehicles to try to improve air quality
(Erickson, 2017).
The great transitions to wind and solar electricity generation and to zeroemission vehicles have started (Chapters 12– 14). The economic progress
towards competitive, low- cost innovations is very important because many
consumers are influenced by cost savings.
1.6 Complex Interactions
Each of the above topics – greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, climate
change, electrification of transportation, smart grids, and the economics of all
these – are large and important topics. They are also all interrelated. This book
addresses important interactions, including the energy, transportation, air
quality, climate change, and health nexus (Erickson and Jennings, 2017); the
renewable energy, electric vehicle, and smart grid nexus; and the Sustainable
Development Goals, air quality, health, renewable energy, and electric
vehicle nexus. Indeed, although each of these topics is plenty complicated on
its own, there is also significant complexity in their interactions. For instance,
wind- and solar- generated electricity must be managed by finding uses for
the amount of electricity being generated, at the time that it is generated. One
way to handle this interaction dynamic is by leveraging the possibility that
electric vehicle batteries can be charged when power needs to be delivered,
thus helping to balance supply and demand (Chapters 4 and 7). In many
parts of the world, there are off- grid opportunities to generate electricity
with solar panels and store it in batteries because prices are decreasing for
both batteries and solar panels (Chapter 9).
Sector integration is one of the significant issues in urban sustainable development, and this can include efficient management of green
buildings, transportation, water and waste management, and ecosystem
care. This integration and coordination itself is a challenge. Good participatory governance in a multisector, multistakeholder environment is
often a challenge for community leaders (Stewart et al., 2018). There is a
challenge in the need to understand social, institutional, economic, physical, and technological limitations regarding the process of advancing