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From Eco-Cars, Eco-Factories, and Cars to Cars, and Zero CO 2
Automobiles are at the center of energy consumption in the transportation sector.
Electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell cars will likely become the mainstream
before 2050. As we bid farewell to the era of cars running on gasoline, it will become
a matter of common sense to not emit CO 2 while driving. Since these cars are highly
efficient, CO 2 emissions will be drastically reduced even if electricity or hydrogen
power will have to be produced from fossil resources. Eventually, electricity and
hydrogen will be produced from renewable energy, and CO 2 emissions in the transportation sector will decrease to zero.
The “Environmental Challenge 2050” announced by Toyota Motor Corporation
in October 2015 is indeed the automobile version of “Vision 2050” which I presented
in 1999 (see Chap. 1). The world’s greatest automobile company has turned––
steered––itself in the direction where it should be heading.
Diversifying Means of Transportation
Transportation methods will likely diversify. For example, we may see young people riding bicycles and senior citizens driving mini electric vehicles (such as electric
wheelchairs) on a sunny day. As products become more affordable, they will own
Fig. 13 Case example of a zero-energy building (ZEB). (Courtesy: Taisei Corporation)
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”
From Eco-Cars, Eco-Factories, and Cars to Cars, and Zero CO 2
Automobiles are at the center of energy consumption in the transportation sector.
Electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell cars will likely become the mainstream
before 2050. As we bid farewell to the era of cars running on gasoline, it will become
a matter of common sense to not emit CO 2 while driving. Since these cars are highly
efficient, CO 2 emissions will be drastically reduced even if electricity or hydrogen
power will have to be produced from fossil resources. Eventually, electricity and
hydrogen will be produced from renewable energy, and CO 2 emissions in the transportation sector will decrease to zero.
The “Environmental Challenge 2050” announced by Toyota Motor Corporation
in October 2015 is indeed the automobile version of “Vision 2050” which I presented
in 1999 (see Chap. 1). The world’s greatest automobile company has turned––
steered––itself in the direction where it should be heading.
Diversifying Means of Transportation
Transportation methods will likely diversify. For example, we may see young people riding bicycles and senior citizens driving mini electric vehicles (such as electric
wheelchairs) on a sunny day. As products become more affordable, they will own
Fig. 13 Case example of a zero-energy building (ZEB). (Courtesy: Taisei Corporation)
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”